Charlotte has spent this summer keeping the moth and
mosquito population in check. Her big round web is
skillfully attached to the unused side of our double
door, the soffit above and the stonework on door's
far side. The porch light ensures her good hunting
every night. At first, Charlotte imprudently built
her magnificent web across both doors, but caught
on after the third or fourth time we came in or out
that it needed rethinking. During the day, she's
hidden out of sight. At night, she sits perfectly
still in the center of her web until an unfortunate
bug gets caught. Then, she moves like lightning to
wrap up dinner and move it out off to the side. If
I open the door too quickly at night, I find the whole
web vibrating with her movements. But if I rattle the
doorknob before opening, she's as still as the pendent
of a necklace on a mannequin. With her large black
body and the yellow pattern on her back, she seems to be
a common garden spider.