THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER

    One long ago but not forgotten Friday I found a spider in our large oleander bush near a green vine-type growth that has fine frothy pale yellow flowers clinging to the six-foot gray weathered wood privacy picket fence. Two corners of the fence surrounded the oleander bush. Several times during the previous week I had observed a large yellow butterfly with black-tipped wings gracefully and swiftly fluttering about our back yard. One evening as I approached the bush with the plan to choose one of the few remaining oleander blossoms for a dining room table rose bowl centerpiece, my peripheral vision caught a fluttering movement which I assumed to be that butterfly. Upon closer observation, because I do have some curiosity in my soul, I was startled to see a very long-legged spider.   It was probably equally as startled as I! The body of this spider was 5/8-to-3/4" long, mostly black, but had tiny brilliant lemon yellow spots. The spots were placed in such a way as to remind me of the placement of the white dots on nonpareil candies. The head was light charcoal gray and sported beady little eyes, so small I wasn't sure of their color. The long slender legs were bent at each "knee" and holding on to a slim branch The legs were golden tan from the body to the bends but shiny black from there to the very sharply pointed tips.

    My first impulse is to kill a spider on most occasions but this one seemed unique. I wanted to share its beauty with my husband, John. I came to the patio door and said, "I want you to come see something." He indulgently left his comfortable recliner where he was trying to watch the 6 p.m. news. Apparently he truly understood that my news was more earth shattering.

He crossed the length of the backyard, looked at the spider with some interest, then said, ''Leave it alone."

    I thought, "Leave it alone? It's big and what if it is poisonous?" I am a Maine native and this was a Texas spider! But I had promised "to obey" nearly forty years before and by then it was well engrained so “obey” I did.

    Over the weekend I kept checking on the spider. It was always in its web between a lower shrub and the oleander bush. The web was about 2-feet square, with extending lines attached from its four corners. The spider's favorite position seemed to be head down. Below its head was a fine white corkscrew incorporated into its web. On some visits I would see her corkscrew but often it was not there. Her web building movements reminded me of the tatting motions of one of my friends.

    By Sunday morning I realized I could see that spider as I sat at my dining room table. Because we owned a small inquisitive dog I decided it'd be wise to call the man who had done the pest inspection when we bought our house. I felt I could give a good enough word description so I was eager for Monday morning to roll around. After anticipating an easy answer I had to leave a message! However, a swift return response from the pest exterminator told me he thought it was probably an orb spider or a writing spider. He added that he had time and wanted to come over to be sure. Within an hour we were in my backyard and he verified his thought as soon as he saw my spider. When he said, "Writing spider," I asked, "A Charlotte's Web spider?" That brought an immediate affirmation of surprise. He told me the Spanish word for it but I cannot remember that. He said the Hispanics sometimes refer to them as "hex" spiders. He further explained, if you want to place a hex on someone, you go out at sunset and say that person's name over and over. When you see later see that person's name written in the web, that person will be (or already is) dead. Thankfully, I have no one I desire to hex even if I did believe such! It makes an interesting story about this spider though.

    By now I was growing a bit possessive of this creation of God. I learned this was a female and her bite would probably cause no more reaction than a mosquito bite. If one were allergic to bee stings, her bite would cause an allergic reaction. He said she was most likely a spring spider and that she could grow to have a leg span the width of a cereal bowl. Her body could become the size of a small hen's egg. At this size, she'd most likely be lunch for some bird. I hoped not!

    I also learned about other "good" spiders that day, but there was something special about the newly found knowledge surrounding this pretty spider in our backyard. She often stayed in one spot in her web when I approached; however, twice in one day, she scurried to the oleander branch as I appeared. I was wearing red. I suppose she thought I was a cardinal.

    One morning I went out to check on her. Both she and her web were missing. I was sad. I had always had a great fondness for "Charlotte's Web" and for a little while God had given me my very own Charlotte. I wondered, “Will she someday have hundreds of babies? If she does, I hope as in ‘Charlotte's Web’ many will blow to other backyards and bring a surge of pleasure to those who benefit by their presence. One or two could stay with me.

©Marilyn Sue Moore 11-15-08 (revised from 9-11-96)