December 20, 2024

I am a juvenile Tropical Orbweaver

I have 8 eyes, you can see two here

They are at the bottom of this photo, not on my back

Regardless of how it appears.

(The dots on her back are eye spots (like on butterflies) that serve to ward off predators.)

Location: Hugh Ramsey Nature Park, Harlingen, TX

Sources: https://rgvctmn.org/blog/tropical-orb-weavers/

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

March 9, 2024

I am a Tropical Orbweaver

My web can be over 3 feet wide

I deconstruct my web every day before dawn

Then rebuild it every night.

Special thanks to today's guest photographer, Heather Stapleton.

Location: Private residence, Vero Beach

Sources: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN568

Photo and text © 2024 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

If you are reading and enjoying this blog, please consider supporting me on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/deeat8am, or purchase my current book, The Rhyming Guide to Florida Spiders (details at https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/p/rhyming-guide-to-florida-spiders-now.html). Thank you for being a reader and friend of Dee at 8 A.M.

June 3, 2022

I am a Tropical Orbweaver

My size and color can vary by sex and age

Either way I'm completely harmless

But my late night guitar playing might keep you awake.

Location: St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, Fellsmere

Sources: https://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/spiders/tropical_orb_weaver.htm

Photo and text © 2022 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

May 20, 2018

Location: Fellsmere, FL, my yard

I am a Tropical Orb Weaver,
Our color varies but I am mostly white
Except for the dark garters at the top of my legs
Which make me look like a woman of the night.

I am a nocturnal spider,

I like to live near oak trees.

I am completely harmless to human beings, 

But not to bugs, which I love to eat. 

(Special thanks to Justin Williams from Ant Man's Hill for the correct identification.)

Sources: Featured Creatures: Tropical Orb Weaver

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson