Bring a Human to Work Day: Cross Orbweaver

Good morning! I was able to catch a couple glimpses of our friendly neighborhood cross orbweavers (tiny little spiders building plate-sized circular webs in the woods here in NH). At least, that's as close as I can identify them for now; feel free to correct me!

I was recently asked (re: my nature photos in general), "HOW do you FIND these things!!??" I guess it's partly about knowing where to look and a critter's habits, with a good dose of disregard for sweat, bush scrapes, and maybe a little bug looking for warmth from your skin or a bite for its kids. But timing is also crucial, as is angle of the sun for webs.

These passive spiders aren't out to get us, and they really do try prefer twigs close to trees and bushes and to stay out of high-traffic areas where tall or wide-antlered moose might wreck their work (webs take between a half hour and two hours each to make). Before getting creeped out by some of its sticky look, I hope you can appreciate that pound for pound that silk is stronger than any steel metal mankind can work up, yet more flexible than nylon (which we have to make as a byproduct of petroleum/fossil fuels).

As far as finding these webs, they're sort of like rainbows in that you can only see them if the sun's at a 45-degree angle to you. Since the earth spins away from the sun by the second, we're lucky if we have even a minute to see a little spider web close up (rainbows are more distant, and on a bigger surface area to enjoy longer). Pro tip: before 8 a.m. and when the sun gets low on the horizon in the afternoon are best times to catch glimpses of these, especially if you know a low or slow water source that their bug foods like to hang out in.

So, if you see a web, get what you can however you can, zoom in at first and get as close as you can. These photos were all I had left after seeing the full "dish" of its web's rainbow initially; seconds really do count. The earth's spin will not stop for you, the spider won't stop its work for you, nothing owes you cooperation. It's all on you, so Godspeed!

Used image editing to knock down the midtones and bump up the contrast a little to show the lines and reflections better.

This one looks huge, but was about a foot in diameter.

Little better shot of some of the spokes coming out from center as work continued. Once all the radials are done (side bits we see here, connecting the spokes), she'll return to the center to eat that little anchor and replace with some tighter strands.

Weavin', weavin', weavin'...

Happy trekking, all - til next time!

"Lark"