Spider Appetites

The other day I saw a spider on the Septre'd Isle on the deck. Of course I left her alone because spiders will keep harmful bugs off my roses, right? By eating them, right?

This morning I checked up on the spider to make sure she was doing her job. She was merrily spinning a web around one of the buds.

Then I noticed a green speck on a leaf nearby. Lo and behold, it was the dreaded...




Aphids! Ugh. A whole fat family of them - Papa, Mama and Baby Aphid. They were greedily sucking the life out of my rose leaves.















The spider was nearby so I waited for some real action.

She moved around a bit, flinging web from leaf to leaf and finally got to the Aphids' feasting grounds.

I coached her... C'mon, you're almost there... just leap up and grab one!...






The tension grew as the spider crept up over the leaf. You're nearly in position... one swift jump and you'll have a juicy treat...

I held my breath as the spider got closer and closer when suddenly...







...that stupid spider turned away from the aphids and crouched in a menacing position toward me and my camera!

Duh, spider! Turn around, your meal is behind you! Aren't you hungry?

I waited so long that I got annoyed. So I took this shot and named it "Spider Annoying Me." Then I left because I couldn't stand it any more and let the spider eat in peace.

When I returned an hour later, the spider was nowhere to be seen and the Aphid Family was fatter than ever. I ended up mashing the aphids with my fingers.

Bah, humbug. Do spiders not eat aphids? Are spiders so dumb they can share a leaf with aphids and not even know it?

I still haven't bought any insecticides yet. But aphids are showing up more frequently now and it's hard enough just to keep them off the roses on the deck. The other 12 rose bushes in the yard are on their own.