It actually does some good for your garden.
The spider in this photo is huge, even scary to some.
But not to worry, it doesn’t kill dogs or cats or people.
Credit: DianaLynne/Getty Images
How To Recognize A Garden Spider
She’s BIG.
Her legs extend twice that distance and are black with red or yellow bands.
Male spiders are much smaller, ranging from a less conspicuous 1/4-to-3/8 of an inch long.
They spend much of their time roaming around and looking for a mate.
The web’s most distinctive feature is thestabilimentumzigzags of silk above and below the center.
Some think its purpose is to keep birds from flying through and destroying the web.
It may also serve to strengthen the web and camouflage the spider as it waits for prey.
In warm-weather climates, tiny spiderlings emerge in fall.
Where winters are cold, the eggs hatch in spring.
Mama guards the egg sac as long as she can, but dies with the first hard frost.
If you could’t bear the sight of it, we recommend moving this beneficial spider rather than killing it.
Are They Poisonous?
Garden spiders aren’t aggressive nor are they prone to bite unless threatened or trapped.
If you’re an arachnophobe, you may prefer to have that web completely out of sight.
Hold the cup in front of her and quickly clap the cup behind.
Release the spider onto a low-hanging plant in a more suitable area.
Eventually, the spider will give up and find another home.
Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC.Beneficial Yellow Garden Spiders.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Venomous Spiders at Work.
