Spotted Orbweaver

Notes:

The reddish one has been a steady resident of my back porch. Just after sunset she (knowing nothing of spiders, I somehow just imagine this is a female) creates huge and beautiful webs that stretch completely across our sliding glass door, prohibiting any access to the back porch until dawn, when she has meticulously taken down every strand. After months, I've gotten used to her, and enjoy being able to watch her without fear through the glass door. She's gotten used to me as well, and it no longer disturbs her that I get within inches of her to watch her spin her web, wrap her food, or devour it. Sadly, I saw a threat lurking outside the edge of her web the other night. It was bigger, nearly twice her size. It watched her, planning its move. She didn't seem to notice or care, diligently continuing her spinning as it watched. And then he rushed in on her I am not sure what I was seeing. I thought it was a fight to the death, and it looked like the larger, darker spider was picking her apart. I felt loss -- she must have spun her last web that night. Going to bed, I wondered if her web would still be up in the morning, and would I have a new resident spider taking her place? The next morning, her web was gone. Odd. She surely couldn't have taken it down. After dusk, I peeked toward the door, almost afraid of what I'd see. However, surprise! There she was. Spinning the evening's web. And she was in tip top condition. No sign of the aggressor has been spotted these past few nights. Did she win? Did she devour him? I'm baffled. But strangely, for someone who has always been afraid of spiders, I'm glad she's still here.