Marbled Orb Weaver (Araneus marmoreus)
I have a love-hate relationship with spiders. I’m semi-terrified of them, especially when they appear in unwanted places (e.g., the shower), but I find watching them build their webs fascinating, and many, like this marbled orb weaver (Araneus marmoreus) are showy, brightly colored, and beautiful in their own spidery way. In addition to the bright colors and pattern, this marbled orb weaver is also striking because of its size. Her abdomen alone was larger than my thumbnail. Let’s just say,…