Not all bug are bad ! Many insects and wanderer have a reputation for doing good deeds around the garden , such as raven on unwanted species or cross-pollinate plant life . These animal are known collectively as beneficial insect . This is the first place in a semi - regular series I ’m call “ Know Your Beneficials , ” which takes an in - depth aspect at some vulgar beneficial insects and wanderer found your garden . Each post will talk about role these species play , how to identify them and their statistical distribution range in the United States .
Salute to the Spider
Of all the creepy-crawly crawlies around us , spiders particularly tend get a bad belt as some of the creepiest bugs out there . In reality , spiders are not insects . They ’re arachnids , a class that includes well - known fauna like ticks and scorpions . Arachnids differ from insect in several ways , but the most telling feature is the number of legs : They have eight legs while true insect have only six .
The fear of spider tends to be greatly overstated . Of the more than 4,000 spider metal money incur in the contiguous United States , only three species of venomous spiders sit a meaning risk to human being : the well - know black widow , the rather non - descript brown recluse , and the bum wanderer , principally found in the Pacific Northwest . The continue 3,997 spider species ( or more ) are relatively harmless to humans and some can even play a helpful theatrical role around your garden or curtilage .
Argiope Spiders
This week , I am go to highlight one of the most visible spider found in my South Carolina garden : the lightlessness - and - yellow genus Argiope wanderer ( Argiope aurantia ) . By seeable , I mean easy recognise because of its large size and distinctive markings . You may know the black - and - yellow argiope spider by one of its many common public figure : fatal and yellow garden wanderer , gilt orb - weaver , writing spider or zip spider . It ’s great , bollock - shape abdomen ( up to 1 column inch in length ) is blackened and decorated with a chicken or orange pattern that varies among individuals . When leg bridge is factored into its size , the grownup female person can reach up of about 2½ inches . Adult Male reach only one - third the size of their adult female counterparts .
As one of the largest ball - weaving wanderer found throughout the continental United States , the black - and - yellowish argiope gain the name writing spider or zipper spider from the zag pattern of shiny - white silk it often creates near the center of its web . Webs are found in gay spots sheltered from the jazz , such as gardens or meadows . This predatory spider uses its web to beguile flying insects , include some noisome garden and yard pests like grasshoppers , flies , wasps and mosquitoes . If you happen to find a black - and - yellowed argiope , lease it be . Watch this amazing creature go to work and enjoy the benefit of a garden with a few less mosquito !
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