"Shelob's Lair" (warning: not for arachnophobics!)

[Romance]

what kind of spider is that?

[Catlady711]

My best guess is it's a Aculepeira armida or Orb Spider

http://science.howstuffworks.com/spider2.htm

Very nice pix! Neat colored spider!

[Kirsten]

BC_MoM, that looks much better!! Thanks!

what kind of spider is that?

Not sure, but I was told it's a so-called garden spider, or Araneus diadematus. As far as I know, they live in Europe only.

Kirsten

[ramanth]

What a gorgeous garden spider! The ones around here are a brilliant yellow and really stand out among the tall grass and pines.

[smokey the elder]

I have no problem with spiders, as long as they are outside where they belong!

[Hellow]

Not to insult anyone, but i don't see why everyone is so scared of spiders?!?! According to some of the best scientists in the world who's names i do not know, it is inappropriate to classify any living thing, be it animal or insect, by human emotions. They are just doing what we all have to do, stay alive. If you don't want them in your house, don't kill it unless its dangerous. Just sit it outside. Next time you go to squish an spider, consider all of the beneficial things they do. Like they eat otherwise dangerous - to - your - plants bugs, they just basically controll otherwise dangerous bugs.

[gini]

Not to insult anyone, but i don't see why everyone is so scared of spiders?!?! According to some of the best scientists in the world who's names i do not know, it is inappropriate to classify any living thing, be it animal or insect, by human emotions. They are just doing what we all have to do, stay alive. If you don't want them in your house, don't kill it unless its dangerous. Just sit it outside. Next time you go to squish an spider, consider all of the beneficial things they do. Like they eat otherwise dangerous - to - your - plants bugs, they just basically controll otherwise dangerous bugs.

I tried to keep all of the above in mind when I was confronted with a black widow spider - full hourglass in view - and I just couldn't handle it.

But I did coax a cricket into a jar with the promise that I was going to save its life if it willingly went into the jar - which it did - and I gently placed it outside.
Does that count?

Kristen - beautiful spider - I could have lived with that one too.