Something about my basement and … creatures (see “Bore Lizard“).

This time, a little creepier. Perched under the doorknob going into our garage was a wily little web-spinner. Not your usual cellar spider, this one. But an Orb Weaver who decided to make her home in one of the most high-traffic areas of the house. Probably to catch me, suck my brains out, and leave my carcass on the garage floor to rot.

Here she is:

About an inch-and-a-half in diameter when crawling about. Their bite is non-toxic, they have poor eyesight, and all they basically do is catch and eat annoying bugs like your average mosquito and fly. So I didn’t squash the sucker. She’s a bit too pretty to squish, anyway. The morning after taking this picture there was a huge, perfectly round web spun in front of the door. I knocked the web down with a nearby stick (so I could leave the house) and it was mighty strong. I wouldn’t be surprised if a creature much larger than this spider got caught in there and couldn’t escape.

No idea where she is now. My hope is that I don’t go into the garage some morning and have an encounter with this.