I realized the other day when I found this beautiful spiny orb weaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis) in my yard, that I had been neglecting my spiders so far this year. If you’ve read this blog for long, you know that I love spiders. I find them incredibly interesting, and many of them are very colorful and pretty. They come in many different sizes and shapes, which adds to their beauty. They also have a number of ways of hunting their insect prey, and each type is very specialized to be highly efficient at it. It’s no wonder I find them so fascinating. Besides, who wouldn’t like something that eats hundreds of pest insects during its lifetime (yes, I know, lots of people do indeed dislike them)?