# What is this big ass white striped spider? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 2, 2018, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-big-ass-white-striped-spider/820657 "2018-09-02T19:32:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-big-ass-white-striped-spider/820657/21 "2018-09-03T13:33:25Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > But what’s an orb weaver doing underground?? Buried by a [wasp](https://thelifeofyourtime.wordpress.com/2013/10/05/insect-arachnid-interaction-spider-wasp-with-a-banded-argiope/)? ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-big-ass-white-striped-spider/820657/22 "2018-09-03T13:57:14Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Buried by a [wasp](https://thelifeofyourtime.wordpress.com/2013/10/05/insect-arachnid-interaction-spider-wasp-with-a-banded-argiope/)? That would certainly explain it, thank you!!! I knew about [mud daubers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mud_dauber) (we have them around here, they seem to prey on black widows) but I had no idea there were wasps that catch orb weavers and drag them underground. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-big-ass-white-striped-spider/820657/23 "2018-09-03T17:37:30Z")
> [@etasyde](#): > > Is this the species in Southern California that builds those _frustratingly_ huge webs **everywhere** around this time of year (and especially in October)? I bloody _hate_ those things, and as described, they’re tenacious and persistent little devils who _insist_ that every single heavily trafficked walkway _must_ be littered with very strong, very large webs that stretch yards and yards… Or maybe it’s a different species? I believe you’re referring to the Marbled Orb Weaver, which is indeed an arachnophobe’s nightmare in Summer/Fall San Diego. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2018, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-big-ass-white-striped-spider/820657/24 "2018-09-05T07:41:57Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > “…big ass white striped spider…” > > As legal council for the WSS appreciation league, I must object strenuously to your profane description of WSS anatomy. It is degrading and infantile. Our membership believes body parts should not be shamed; there may be a glandular problem that your sample suffers from. Any continuing or future defamation will be smacked down with a rolled up newspaper. > [@jayjay](#): > > Huh. You’d think spider culture would value big asses, as it shows a propensity for denser spinneret configurations and therefore a greater aptitude for providing for a family. There may have been some genetic predilection for enhanced spinneret configurations in the spider’s long and distinguished evolution but I’m on to you using these big words as a sop to my clients. in your smoky back rooms, bars, and locker rooms - it’s big-ass this and big-ass that. You try churning a few hundred offspring and see if some part of your anatomy isn’t stretched and sagging a bit. All this smacking and spraying is vexing to my clients as well. They would like to point out that without spiders, you humans would be up to your armpits in creepy, crawly, bitey, blood sucking insects in no time. TAKE THAT THOUGHT TO BED WITH YOU!:eek: :D:D:D:D [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-big-ass-white-striped-spider/820657.md?page=1)