We have had a Writing Spider living beside our garage for a couple of weeks now. She is a fairly good size for a spider and I refer to it as a, "she", due to her size. The males are known to be a bit smaller. I have tried to photograph her several times lately. Whenever I get a tad too close, for her comfort, she literally runs along this piece of web to the top of the garage.
Folklore refers to her as a Writing Spider. If you speak your name to her and she writes it in her web, then you will surely die.
She is also known as a Writing Spider due to the erratic linear web lines. Her design suggests the shape of a written word.
Don't worry....I was too scared when I was next to her to speak a single word, much less introduce myself. Besides, she became engrossed in the grasshopper she had caught in her web. 
We have one about every year beside our porch and they're fun to watch. I'd never heard the saying about telling one your name. Luckily I haven't :).
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to take a second look at spiders after this shot and post. The writing spider? That's new one for me.
ReplyDeleteDitto on the information. I'll tell my Mom about this. She watches them and forbids us to disturb them,but since the brown recluse scare, I'm a little leary of all spiders.
ReplyDeleteDown here in Texas they're just called garden spiders. I prefer to call them "Zippers" though because of the white zipper pattern they often put in the middle of their webs.
ReplyDeleteI like Writing Spider though! And the spooky folklore is perfect for Halloween!
Folklore can be so interesting. Two weeks ago I had spider week here. I killed a brown recluse and a black widow, plus I had two huge spiders that looked like mini tarantulas. It really freaked me out. I'm not fond of spiders in my house. It isn't unusual to see them around the barns every now and then, but all in one week. Yikes!
ReplyDeleteOh Farmchick, you are so brave! I am afraid I would have just tore it down and killed the poor thing rather than figuring out all the interesting facts.
ReplyDeleteOh WOW!
ReplyDeleteYou are incredibly brave to stand there and capture that.....ummm...beautiful creature....
:0
I have never seen one before.
And kind of glad that I can just look at your photo instead!
:)
coool.
ReplyDeletei wonder if that's where the idea for the book/movie charlotte's web came from??
i've never heard of writing spiders before.
have a great sunday! :)
these photos are gorgeous ! Especially the first! the colors yellow and black of spider are really beautiful, the moment is good also ... I really like!
ReplyDeleteBravo ! :))
Bye**
Stunning pics! Interesting about the folklore, I wonder if we have any such sayings in RSA, mmm luckily I don't make a point of introducing myself to spiders,not even after a couple of glasses of wine!
ReplyDeleteWe had one in our living room window a few years ago! I'd never seen one before and had to look her up! Her web had curly swags all through it that literally looks like script writing...amazing. And yes, they are BIG! You got some great photos!
ReplyDeleteAnytime I run across one of those webs, I am amazed. I've always wondered about their reason for the "writing". I've heard that folklore, but never introduced myself. I wasn't taking any chances. LOL
ReplyDeleteI just read somewhere (of course, being so darned old, I can't remember where)about written language starting from the weave of a spider's web. So if the Writing Spider won't kill me, she will surely drive me nuts until I can remember where I read this.
ReplyDeleteWell if she writes "some pig" you'll have a star.
ReplyDeleteI love to watch these spiders. Alas, we don't have any this year. Not sure why though, maybe because we had an extremely cold and long winter.
ReplyDeleteYesterday I got rid of one of the biggest black widows we've ever had. Yikes! Your spider looks like a garden spider. I really don't have any love for spiders.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures indeed ! Thank you as well for teaching me something I did not know before.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful a place it must be where something alike is possible. Yes, I do miss living "home". Please have a good new week.
daily athens
DO. NOT. LIKE. SPIDERS. CREEPY!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is so funny, we have one beside our garage too, and until today I didn't know what type it was, thanks for sharing. I will be sure to not speak to her and most certainly not tell her my name. lol. Great post.
ReplyDeleteSue
She's huge! Next thing your going to post a picture of Wilber the pig.
ReplyDeleteFarmchick -- A great piece of folklore tied to nature. When I was young I was frightened of spiders but now I find them extremely fascinating. The writing spider -- do you know the Latin name? I will be on the lookout for one in my part of the Kentucky territory. Thanks for the last comment on my blog -- barbara
ReplyDeleteWhat a coincidence! Just today I had my family over for lunch after church and my nephew and his wife were telling of a large spider that resides in a corner outside their garage. Their boys go out every day and watch him/her work its magic.
ReplyDeleteI kept thinking of words like "Some Pig", "Terrific", "Radiant", and "Humble" while reading your post. If these words appear make sure to take pics. :<)
What a story. I'll keep silent the next I see a spider of any kind
ReplyDeleteUsually, in thiis kind of encounters, the one that die quickly is the poor spider!
Nothing quite like a grasshopper to settle the hunger pangs.
ReplyDeleteI took a similar picture a few years ago of that type of spider, but didn't know anything about it, especially the folklore. I love those types of tales. Makes nature so interesting, doesn't it? :)
ReplyDeleteWe call them garden spiders too, and it's amazing to watch them weave; makes you think they're drunk.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you didn't tell her your name. :)
ReplyDeleteThat was a great shot...I think that folklore is interesting...we don't have those spiders here. The most interesting is what I call a tunnel spider. They make huge funnel like webs that look like tunnels.
ReplyDeleteI always have several of these very beautiful and useful spiders scattered throughout my gardens here on the Ponderosa. I shall never whisper my name near one now. I didn't know! Heeehehehe :o)
ReplyDeleteYa'll have a marvelously blessed 'fall' day!!!
Nice photos! That is interesting folklore and one big spider! I find spiders fascinating creatures but I hardly ever see one here.
ReplyDeletewow incredible capture! brava!
ReplyDeleteciao, Luis
she is a she for sure. as they eat the males once they have been impregnated !
ReplyDeletewe have had them and if she is pregnant, keep watching as she will fill sacs and sacs with eggs....hundreds of thousands of eggs.....once the sacs are visible, i would suggest moving them if they are close to your home.....
their sticky webs allow you to wrap the web of the sacs around a stick and move them out to a field.....
I hate spiders! I see those kind around here a lot and I try to stay clear of them. You have to watch when you open the front door now, they hang around outside and run in when the door opens.
ReplyDeletedisgusting, beautiful and incredible!
ReplyDeletenice shots!
WOW! These are amazing! I can't believe she let you get this close! You're brave :)
ReplyDeleteI don't think that if she writes your name you'll die
ReplyDelete