Spider Skeleton...

This was a first for me...


OK- a couple weeks ago Charles and I were looking at this BIG spider and web under the over-hang of the carport. We often see this type of spider around our place and they grow pretty big, as these pictures show!









At first glance there appeared to be 2 BIG spiders in this web...along with the remains of past meals! I realized one of the spiders was not moving at all and Charles-fearlessly- reached up and plucked this spider from the web!
( Sorry-I did not think about a picture before he removed it.)

I, at first, thought one big spider had eaten the other one, leaving the outer shell.
LOL! ( Well-I had never seen this before!)

Actually, what this was was the skeleton of the living spider! I didn't know this...as spiders are a recent interest for me...but spiders Molt-shed the outer shell- so as to grow bigger! :) I find this very cool!!

Here is a site that explains all of this!

Here are the pictures! Aren't they neat looking! This is the discarded outer shell!
This is Charles and me , with the spider shell!
~~Yep-That's my hand!! :) ~~

And- Yep- that spider wants to grow even bigger!!






I was thrilled to have found this nature treasure and put it aside in my craft/junk room with intentions of putting it in a little box later, for safe keeping!

:( I discovered it gone today! I guess it must have gotten thrown out with the old newspapers!

But I'll be looking for my next one!! :)



Junie

( Spider Woman)