![1 (172).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmSZkzETS3Bs2GphAr3UTZMG4LEJsBAiJGnq1TWQtPJHsv/1%20(172).jpg)

Be careful where you put your hands through the day, you never know what will come out at night. This little collection of orb spiders are residents under the hand rails of Commonwealth Avenue Bridge. It is common to see people leaning on the rails to admire the views, never knowing how close they are to scary...

Just look at the length of those rails and think about how many spiders there are under them...
![DSC_0020.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmevj9wBzejtrchZ66BkDcgwy1sEGzLHvZpojhkDhrZsRo/DSC_0020.jpg)

The orb weavers are a large and diverse family of spiders found worldwide, except of course Antarctica. They build their large webs at night in open expanses to trap flying insects. 

![1 (163).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmeCsc8xsB7meDrXuohvJ7UMHgYcuGXyse1ZtFrUPz3efg/1%20(163).jpg)

![1 (165).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTX1qzSCYENsy5BQMgCmMq4cdxAQRUecBtBnNLcytLwXS/1%20(165).jpg)

There is a variety of species under these rails, attracted by the lure of an easy feed as moths and other insects are attracted by the lights.

![1 (166).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmQkaQFf9c3xuKeKrr7SQo1TiUo1mFLQi1HjJ8LPHiWhtQ/1%20(166).jpg)

![1 (167).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmP5D4isti1N78gvDbhPubPA8ze3MLvdWSuma6JScR3unn/1%20(167).jpg)

The web is a flat trap, which the spider sits in the middle of, waiting for something to blunder into it, which is taken down each morning and remade each night. Through the day, the spiders retire to a nest near their trap zone to sleep.
![1 (170).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmd2oRh18PZozyRUEFwGmhMaRs4jAp8pFFp2pTDqkcKbfa/1%20(170).jpg)

![1 (171).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmbcmJDpXfHZUnJWgWzeEjvCG4pZXDWEi6ht5SogmEewsm/1%20(171).jpg)


![1 (173).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmUBmi5q4Rht7xeZ8y4pJ3NQwFKUZc3F92TLg6oo7LaN3h/1%20(173).jpg)

![1 (174).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmdBNBL2fxxevgndQVx3oywkexsFEHhreq9Up72Sb1wpCs/1%20(174).jpg)

![1 (175).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmZHGNN19SQRrYJm7tP48uEfm3gapQEhq4cKvwtjoVXC9Y/1%20(175).jpg)

![1 (178).jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVeSc9pGugdnuDv7vDkSA8Ur5Ace1kkpg4eYxRmaKh35J/1%20(178).jpg)

While they are not terribly venomous, and are generally retiring and shy, they can and will deliver a painful bite if they feel threatened. However, this is rare and not serious. 

But imagine having one crawl up your neck whilst you are in the bush, miles from anywhere on a stinking hot day in January... yep, it has happened to me. And she was one of the big ones. Big enough I actually felt her footfalls through my t-shirt! Even for a non arachnophobe it was quite the shock!

Once again, these are not dangerous to humans and just want to be left alone. Just be aware of where you put your hands.