by Donna Lewis
Just before it rained the other day, I saw this very interesting spider web under a tree, wound up in a Turk’s Cap plant.
I was not about to get too close as it looked like something that if I were a small insect, I would enter and never come out again. I think they make horror movies about these kinds of things.
But I was also struck by how intricate and, yes, beautiful it was. How can a tiny insect have the mind to construct something like this? Another one of nature’s secrets.
I sent the photo to Master Naturalist Eric Neubauer, who we are fortunate to have as a member of our Chapter to identify what spider made this. He said it was either in the family of Agelenopsis or Agelenidae Funnel Spider.
They look similar to a Wolf Spider. But I am not going to get that close to ask it.
The lesson is as usual, look around at nature and you will see wonderful things.
Nature Along the El Camino Real 