September 26, 2026
An Orb-weaver web. Found a few days ago when it was so rainy and drizzly, during a break in the drizzle. Most likely built by an Orb-weaver spider (members of the spider family Araneidae).
Often Orb-weavers create a fresh web each day. Hiding for a good part of the day, they are active during the evening. As the web gets to be a day old it loses its sticky quality. As evening approaches these spiders will consume the old web, rest for a short time, and then spin a new web in a close by location. The new web will be free of debris, with a fresh sticky surface, ready for catching some flying and crawling insects again.
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Found your site a couple of weeks ago while researching Virginia wild orchids (and subscribed). I enjoy nature as you do but live near the Potomac so I haunt the wet lands and ridges leading down to the river. I see and photograph many of the same or similar species that you’ve posted, but also many others may be less likely to be seen nearer the Shenandoah Valley uplands. We are both very fortunate to live in such a beautiful State with an abundance of interesting living things.