By Cindy Walker Burton

Pumpkins are forever associated with autumn. Stroll down any grocery aisle and you will be inundated with a plethora of pumpkin-infused pleasures: pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cake rolls, pumpkin egg nog, limited edition pumpkin spice Cheerios, pumpkin spice Pop Tarts. Let’s not forget the ubiquitous Starbucks pumpkin spice latte. It wouldn’t be fall at all without jovial jack-o-lanterns.

I would like to take a moment to introduce you to a less noticeable, seldom mentioned, often overlooked harbinger of fall. She doesn’t enjoy the notoriety of the aforesaid pumpkin passions. She’s quite demure, diminutive, and domestic. In fact, she’s adept at weaving, raising offspring, providing sustenance, sensing enemies, and living her best life daily. Who is this mystery pumpkin phenom?

Why, she’s none other than the pumpkin spider, aka, marbled orb weaver! I had the distinct pleasure of discovering Araneus Marmoreous in her striking orange finery at the park. This multi-tasking arachnid was actually taking the sidewalk on her journey to wherever in a decidedly deliberate direction. You go girl!

Miss Marbled Orb Weaver had a bright orange, spherical abdomen with a unique mottled pattern. What a fashion forward pioneer! Yes, this profusely pregnant spider was dressed to impress while carrying hundreds of babies in her super-swollen tummy. Her matching attire included eight tri-color bristled legs (orange, white, and black) and eight eyes. Let’s just say she was fashion coordinated from her eyes to her legs.

A master web weaver (or webster), Miss Weaver uses her vertical wheel-shaped web to detect and capture prey, to sense sound, for transportation, and to provide shelter. Is she environmentally conscious? Naturally. Miss Weaver doesn’t just leave a messy damaged web for others to clean up. She eats it (pass the hot sauce, Sis!). Then she expertly spins a new web consisting of carefully curated sticky and non-sticky silk threads, safety lines, and drag lines. Web Weaving 101 anyone?

Ever heard of pumpkin spider courtship via the web? Does a male pumpkin spider just sit down beside her? Does he only have eyes (eight to be exact) for her? Miss Weaver’s much smaller male counterpart plucks her web in an intentional, intricate manner to indicate his interest and to prove he is not prey. What? You thought he used the worldwide web?

Pumpkin spider has panache and poise: she’s nonvenomous and nonaggressive toward humans (thankfully) and generally doesn’t react to being held. Or photographed. Or attracting attention with her bulging orangey belly. Your burning question by now must be, “Cindy, did you pick her up?” My answer is emphatically “NO!” Afterall, I know better than to interrupt a pregnant female who is obviously on a mission. Don’t you? She was gracious enough to allow me to zoom in closely for an impromptu photo shoot. Do you think she’ll make the cover of Women’s Web Daily or Arachnid Illustrated?

That was my first encounter with a female pumpkin spider: a master weaver, undisputed fashion achiever, and hundreds-plus spiderling conceiver. Newfound respect for arachnids? I’m a believer.