Zipper Spider, With Flowers

When I go on my morning walk, I am always on the lookout for critters of all kinds. Sometimes it's cool bugs. Other times, cats. And sometimes, deer. On this day, there was a huge collection of bug life going on around some flowers by the road.

I found some grasshoppers, and bees, and also two spiders. This one was the bigger of the two, and I believe it is Argiope aurantia, the black and yellow garden spider, also known as the zipper spider or the Steeler spider (yes, black and gold = Pittsburgh Steelers colors).

The spider's web was right beside a lovely collection of flowers, and it seemed like a good strategy to me: placing a web by something that would attract other bugs. Good planning ---> good eating!

I had other shots that better displayed the yellow and black of the spider from the top, but I liked the fact that this one clearly showed the zigzag/zipper and the rest of the web, with the pretty flowers in the background.

Our soundtrack song is No Doubt, with Spiderwebs.

P.S. The answer to yesterday's trivia question: the Moose had the wrong end of the kazoo in his mouth. Your mouth goes against the broader end, not the narrower end. (Who knew?!?!)