BIG ONE: When we asked readers about a “cute little creature”
about 10 days ago, we were way off base. While it may be cute, this
spider is far from “little.” In fact, the female of this black and
yellow arigobe can be as large as the palm of your hand.

“My heart almost flew out of my chest,” said Carl Milks of
Bradford, describing his reaction when he first “experienced” this
huge creature while on a night-time nightcrawler hunt.

In case you missed it, we had asked our readers about a spider
which Jane Larson of Duke Center had found in her black-eyed
Susans. Like the flower, it was black and yellow. Jane had send
along a picture, which we printed, but we had erroneously assumed
it was small – like a ladybug, not large like a silver dollar!

Many readers have contacted us with information on this spider
which may seem frightening but, in fact, is non-poisonous and is
actually pretty fascinating.

In fact, it will probably take us two days to tell you all about
it.

First, the identity. Like we said, it is called a “black and
yellow arigobe” but it has many more names.

Kim VanHorn of Austin reports, “I have them every year in my
flower gardens. They are very intimidating when you first see
them.”

She included information she gleaned off the web (noting that no
pun had been intended) reporting that has a scientific name of
Argiope aurantia or a common orb weaver spider of the family
Araneidae.

Nancy Connor of North Carolina, originally from Smethport, tells
us the spider is also known as a “writing spider.” She’s seen them
where she lives in the Outerbanks.

The spiders make a “zig zag writing and a huge web. I’ve seen
them go through hurricane. They are very, very strong. … They make
you stop and take notice.”

Trudy Pomeroy of Kushequa, who’s also had first-hand experience
with the spider, also identified them as a “writing spider” – most
likely named because of that zig-zaggy web. “They have a beautiful
web,” she says.

Jane of Mount Jewett notes, “They are beautiful little critters.
Although the one I had here could hardly be termed ‘little.’ It
seems to me the abdomen was about the size of a jelly bean, and,
legs included, the spider was the better part of two inches
long.”