The Itsy-Bitsy Argiope Aurantia

If you're anything like Houstonist, you may have lately noticed a proliferation of tiny, yellow-and-black spiders in your backyard, garden, garage or other outdoor spaces. Don't be scared! These spiders, along with their lesser-seen Orb-weaver cousins, are one of late summer's greatest gifts.

The widely-seen spider pictured to the right is the Argiope aurantia, also known as the Yellow and Black Garden Spider. This little spider, which can be anywhere from three-quarters of an inch to a little over an inch long, is active during the warm late summer months and into the fall. They only live for about a year, so that short life span is spent busily catching prey, mating (although the male quickly dies and is eaten after doing the deed) and laying eggs to give birth to the next generation of hatchlings, which the fragile female fastidiously guards until the first cold snap of winter kills her. A. aurantia are one of a species of spiders known as Orb-weavers, which means that their webs are not only beautifully intricate, they are also quite skillfull at catching all manner of flying nasties using a distinctive thick zig-zag pattern that is particularly attractive to insects.

The A. aurantia preys upon Houston's least-favorite insects, including wasps and mosquitoes, but are completely harmless to humans. Its cousin, the Spiny-Backed Orb Weaver (pictured on the left), is also a dutiful and helpful one-spider pest-control squad, and is even more recognizable. This small spider -- which can come in a variety of colors, but is often seen here in yellow and black -- is shaped like a miniature hermit crab, hence its scientific name Gasteracantha cancriformis. With an even shorter lifespan than the A. aurantia, the G. cancriformis is active during the summer months before dying in early winter. Despite that brief existence, they work well with their cousins to eliminate a different range of insects, including moths, flies and beetles, keeping your patio or backyard enjoyably pest-free (if you can take the August heat, that is).

These dog days are the perfect time to get out there and meet these little spiders one-on-one, whether to teach your kids about the beneficial aspects of our arachnid friends or simply to snap a few photos for your Flickr account. Don't care for spiders? That's okay, too; just remember what they do for you (whether you know it or not) and keep the Golden Rule in mind when you pass their delicate webs, glittering in the hot summer sun.
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Photos courtesy of Flickr users Red Rooster and Polar Bear in a Snowstorm.