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I do not like spiders. Period. OK...I do like Charlotte, either from the book or movie, but I have never thought of her as real. I was scared to death when I saw Arachnophobia in the theaters; Shelob from Return of the King totally creeped me out, and Spiderman doesn't do a thing for me. So about a month ago when we discovered a huge banana spider (also called a Yellow Argiope or Yellow Garden Spider) had constructed an equally huge web in the landscaped area right below our front porch, I was less than thrilled, and my initial thoughts were murderous. However, the thing I hate the most about spiders is killing them, and Damon never got around to it, so the spider continued to live and thrive situated strategically above our lantana bed (which butterflies and moths love...convenient, huh?).
At least a month has passed and our entire family has grown completely fascinated by this arachnid! We have named her....Shelob--thus, the title of my entry. We have thrown huge leaves, flowers and dried grass into her web only to find it meticulously cleaned and rebuilt by the next morning. We have even watched her catch and wrap a moth a time or two. Interestingly, she has laid an egg sack and hidden it in a nearby bush. (Still not sure what to do about that! I'm not sure that my softer feelings toward the mother include her hundreds of little icky babies!) She often uses the paraphenalia we've thrown into her web to cover it up. After doing a little research, we've found that she will die after the first frost, which I have to admit, saddens me a little. Even I, the spider-hater, have grown a bit attached to this little bit of nature. I think it may be because Shelob, as creepy as she may appear to some, is a testimony of God's greatness. I see God's handiwork in how she is put together and the habits that she has. It also reminds me that if He put this much thought and detail into a lowly spider, then he cares oh so much more for me.
Here's a photo of her. She is probably about the size of an average human hand. I think, for a spider, she's rather attractive. As you can probably tell I photographed her while she was having dinner. And I did use my zoom...I don't like her that much to get that close to her !
***NEWSFLASH*** Shelob is missing! The only thing we can think is that she died and has fallen off her web. This is confusing because my research indicated she would die when it was cold, and it is 88 degrees outside! Damon is going to perform a search for her tonight in the bush below her web. So, now the dilemma is what to do with the egg sack. What do you all think? My vote is to flush it...or some other similiar fate. Damon wants to put it in a Ziploc bag and see if they'll hatch in the spring. He thinks it will be cool to see hundreds, possibly thuosands, of little baby spiders. I think that's just gross. Also, I'm like, then what? Leave them in the bag and let them suffocate? Take them to the country and release them? Is it back to my original plan and flush them? So post your ideas in the comment sections please.... |
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