Unidentified

She’s a Cross Orbweaver, Araneus diadematus. This is an elderly female. Her abdomen is rumpled because it is contracting after it was stretched out from her developing eggs. The females that have oviposited their eggs often are near the ground in the photos we receive. They also head toward moisture. I’m guessing that they are too weak to make webs and are very thirsty. She may have sensed the moisture in the pumpkins. She could use her fangs to attempt to drink. In a drought I’ve seen spiders, insects, and many birds attempt to get water from wet moss. I… Read more »