Link: Spider Silk Strength

Hm, just found an article on Wired about spider silk strength. Apparently, it changes its flex based on the amount and duration of pressure on it & some strands breaking makes the others stronger. There wasn't much about how and why this works. Fascinating stuff.

Neoscona oaxancis

This is an old one/ I am not even sure when I meant to post it, just found it lurking in the drafts folder & figured it was about time the beautiful spider had her day in the sun.

The Certainty of Spiders

No matter where you go, there will be spiders.

Here are a number of them hiding out in tiny cracks in trees in Huntington Beach Parks.

This one is at Worthy Park.

Another resident of Worthy Park

And here's one lurking in Newland Park.

Busy Orb Weavers

Given all the cold weather we've been having, and the rain, I was surprised at how many large webs and weavers were still about. Usually, the first autumn rain drives them all away (or, more likely, kills them).

I spent some time admiring this orb weaver's beautiful silhouette as it worked. There was quite a distance between its chosen supports, so it really had to travel.