The Well-Timed Houseguest

Well. look at what's come to visit my little abode, in perfect time for haunting fesitivities!

This guy has been hard at work building a web in a corner of one of the big windows in the living room- on the outside, thank goodness! According to Wikipedia, it's a garden cross spider, and they're relatively common in our neck of the woods. I've never seen one this close and personal though, and it's somehow fascinating.

I'd guess the thorax length at about half an inch, with a 2-inch legspan from front to rear. The web is beautiful, and fills the entire upper left corner of our window. It's hard to see in most lights unless you look from just the right angle, but this guy has done a fine job of weaving! As a fellow craftsperson, I can appreciate the skill...

But he better not stay all winter, unless he wants to help with the ladybeetles that are taking over inside my house. Blech.

Anyways- are you guys doing anything for Halloween? Taking little ones out for the candy collecting, or donning crazy costumes for a party? We're just staying in and watching scary movies on Netflix- maybe I'll make some popcorn balls. Yum!

Nicki