Meet Max

"Max" is for Maximum Size. And she (I'm confident that she's a female because of her size) is the black and white yellow garden spider (argiope aurantia) that has been living just outside our office window.

I noticed her a couple of days ago while delivering a cold glass of water to Gordon while he was cutting the grass. She's had at least 2 big catches in her web. She measures approximately 2-inches from the bottom of her abdomen to the tip of her head. She is, without a doubt, the biggest spider I've ever seen.

I don't like spiders. In fact, I was thoroughly creeped out when I saw her. But with Gordon's help (who held me around the waist to ensure that I didn't fall head-first into the web), I snapped her picture anyway.

underbelly:

Forr more information on our little friend, click here:

http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/black_and_yellow_argiope.htm

all photos by Jeni

except "Underbelly", photo by Gordon