On an early morning walk through the tropical rainforest, we came upon this spectacular female Giant Golden Orb-weaver.
My travelling companion, who had been blundering about the bush with me the previous evening, expressed some indignation
that I had not warned her of the presence of such beasts. I didn't want to alert them to her in case she picked up any hints about
how the females dispose of the males after (or even prior to) mating.

The male Golden orb weaver is very very tiny.
If he could speak I have no doubt he would sound high and whiny.
In comparison the female is really quite gigantic,
which makes life rather dangerous if he's feeling romantic.
She builds a yellow sticky web that stretches metres wide,
and sits there in the middle, doesn't even try to hide,
Her legs are long, her eyesight's poor, but she can spin so quickly,
a male won't approach her if he's feeling down or sickly.
He has to have his wits about him, he'll get no second chance,
he really risks being eaten when he's looking for romance;
(Indeed, I've seen it happen, he was gone in several seconds,
and I'm pleased that humans don't respond that way when romance beckons).
He caresses, strokes and massages, and tries to win her favour,
but there's every chance that she'll be thinking more about his flavour.
If his timing is a little out, or she's feeling irritated,
he'll be food for her before the two have even mated.
But if he plays his cards right and she's feeling in the mood,
he might become a father yet- as well as spider food.
İAlexander Dudley