Orb-Weaving Spider Photography by Kozmic Dreams Volume 2

My Digital Photography of

Orb-Weaving Spiders

Volume 2: 2010 - (Spiders #14 -)

The following orb-weaving spiders were photographed in the Metro-Detroit area, unless otherwise noted. I have identified them by their scientific names, if known. If you know the name of any unidentified spiders, please e-mail me at kozmicdreams@ymail.com. Photographs are sorted so that most recent photos are at the top of the page.

Click on any photo to see a larger view!

Orb-weaver #24---Micrathena

Waterloo State Park, Eddy Discovery Center Trails, July 12, 2020 (non-macro)

I'm not sure if this is also a Micrathena gracilis. I've never seen one with this coloration before---they've all been black and white.

Orb-weaver #23--- Species Unknown

Leonard Preserve, June 21, 2020 (non-macro)

This orbweaver was under one of the osage orange trees, spinning a web.

Orb-weaver #22--- Species Unknown

Yankee Springs State Park, September 16, 2019 (non-macro)

The first two photos show a large female spider that just caught prey. She went inside a leaf. I returned later that afternoon to check on her and found the male spider in the third photo hanging around her web. There was also a second large female about 10 feet from the other female, curled in a leaf eating a shield bug. I tilted the leaf outward so I could see the first spider. She didn't even move and wasn't bothered by me moving her leaf.

Orb-weaver #21---Micrathena gracilis

Yankee Springs State Park, September 16, 2019 (non-macro)

Orb-weaver #20---Micrathena gracilis

Marshall Park, August 17, 2019 (non-macro)

Orb-weaver #19--- Species Unknown

Sterling State Park, September 17, 2016 (non-macro)

I'm not sure what kind of orb-weaver this is, but there were lots of them on the railings at Sterling State Park overlooking Lake Erie. I really liked the way one could see this spider's web as well as the background rocks and water in these photos.

Orb-weaver #18--- Unknown young spider

This spider got wet when I was watering my moss garden. I took a few photos of it, but I'm not sure what kind it is because it was still quite small. It may be a young cross spider. It is photographed on an emerging boysenberry leaf with my wide angle macro lens.

Orb-weaver #17--- Micrathena gracilis

Oak Openings Metropark, September 5, 2015 (non-macro)

Orb-weaver #16--- Species Unknown

This strange orbweaver spun a web on the north side of my house in the boysenberries. When I first looked at the web, I didn't even see the spider because it blended in so well with the strip of insects and debris that ran down the middle of the web. I photographed it on two separate occasions, July 12, and July 16, 2011.

Orb-weavers #14 and #15--- Female and Male Orchard Spiders, Leucauge venusta

I was clearing out some dead and diseased boysenberry vine when I saw an orb-weaver web. I knew it would have to be destroyed in order for me to properly take care of the boysenberries, so I tapped on the web, causing the spider to come out, and I captured her so she wouldn't get hurt while I was working. About 5 minutes later, I found her mate! I was so excited to see these spiders because this is only the second time I've seen them in my life. I found the last one at my old house in 2007. These were found and photographed on August 18, 2010. You can see how much smaller the male is than the female by using the butterfly bush flower as a comparison. Once I was done gardening, I released the spiders back into the same location. The next day, I saw the female's web in nearly the same spot as before!

Male Orchard Spider