Have you ever really watched an orb weaver, especially a big one, run through or spin it’s web? If you ever get the opportunity, you absolutely should. They really are the ultimate acrobats as they balance on the tiny threads and move about at remarkable speeds. They even seem to have their own safety lines that allow them to dangle in the air and pull themselves back up. It’s something I could spend hours watching . I may not have actually spent hours, but I did enjoy watching this female black and yellow garden spider (Argiope aurantia) as she built her web on my front porch. The web started with this single strand and the spider worked tirelessly. Within a few hours, she had an intricate and very functional insect trap and home base built. It was quite impressive.