Orbweaver Neoscona sp. or Eriophora sp or Eustala sp.

The Twisty Araneid Department, taking its customary breath of pre- "Daily Show" air on the deck of a summer's eve, was surprised to find this large-ish (15 mm) weaver orf orbs hanging face down in the center of an enormous web where none had existed just hours earlier. The black venter spot surrounded by white dots pretty much wraps it up with a ribbon as Neoscona, but aspects of the behavior, e.g. diurnal retreat to a remote leaf-cave and pre-dawn web removal, suggest Eriophora or Eustala. "Why," you may ask, "does this level of detail interest you?"

Because when the orbweavers take over--and it's only a question of time, old chum--I wanna know who my friends are.

Photos August 2004

Left: Dorsal view Below Left: Ventral view Below right: hiding beyond the camera's reach under 15' eave the next morning