Silver Argiope (Argiope argentata, Araneidae) spider
This is a different large Silver Argiope (Argiope argentata, Araneidae) spider in the same patch of California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum, Polygonaceae) by the mailbox that I've been showing. It almost looks like a cartoon spider with those remarkable "horns" around the abdomen. The common name comes from the silver/white part on the spider's top side. It's interesting that this spider was there for a while and then suddenly disappeared after being there for a good month. No problem, we had a second spider which I showed for Arachtober 2 in this photo - and now that spider has suddenly disappeared. Maybe it's hatching eggs somewhere? Maybe a spider wasp got it? Maybe it just got tired of me butting in to get a photo? Whatever the reason, I miss it. Arachtober 17. (San Marcos Pass, 14 August 2016)
Silver Argiope (Argiope argentata, Araneidae) spider
This is a different large Silver Argiope (Argiope argentata, Araneidae) spider in the same patch of California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum, Polygonaceae) by the mailbox that I've been showing. It almost looks like a cartoon spider with those remarkable "horns" around the abdomen. The common name comes from the silver/white part on the spider's top side. It's interesting that this spider was there for a while and then suddenly disappeared after being there for a good month. No problem, we had a second spider which I showed for Arachtober 2 in this photo - and now that spider has suddenly disappeared. Maybe it's hatching eggs somewhere? Maybe a spider wasp got it? Maybe it just got tired of me butting in to get a photo? Whatever the reason, I miss it. Arachtober 17. (San Marcos Pass, 14 August 2016)