Now that summer weather has firmly entrenched itself in central Florida, the insects and spiders are everywhere. As most of you know, I really like most insects, but I absolutely love spiders. So needless to say, I was very pleased to find this black and yellow garden spider (Argiope aurantia), a type of orb weaver spider, hanging in a nearly perfect web with a very impressive stabilimentum. There are several theories about the function of the stabilimentum. One is that it helps to stabilize the web against wind and rain. Another is that it provides a visual clue to birds and mammals that the web is there so that they will avoid it, thus not destroying it as they pass. I can easily see how both of those theories would be beneficial to the spider. Most stabilimentums are smaller, and less elaborate than this one, and this one really is a work of art. I was very happy to be able to see it and to protect the artistry of it in a photo.