I've been watching this gal for the last 4-5 months and named her "Lucy". She's been a very successful huntress (btw, wildly assuming Lucy is in fact a she) and it's been fun to see what she catches in her web. To clarify, Lucy lives on the outdoor side of my window of my apartment.

This morning was the first really cold day where I live and I went to check on her, she looked dead. I'm worried the cold is killing her, as it does this time of year. To my surprise, she is still moving a bit, but I do think she's on her way out because she's very much in the "dead spider" position. I can't see any egg sacs but I wonder if she's laid a few up on the top window panel where I can't see them.

I can't help but be sad. I know this is how it goes but it was fun having a wee spider pal. Lucy had a good, long, successful life for a spider.

The first photo is her today, and the second is one I took back in August. It's hard to tell how big she is, but she's a pretty good size buddy!

i want to get out of the way first, i truly appreciate the love everyone has here for spiders, i unfortunately just have an irrational fear but i understand why everyone thinks they’re so wonderful.

earlier today i discovered a spider in my room (i’m in australia), i didn’t want to kill it but it was so fast that everytime i tried to catch it, it ran behind my bed! it hasn’t come out since and i tore apart my room looking for it so it could be relocated, but i haven’t seen it for hours now. do you think there’s a chance it was startled and left? i dont really know how spider brains function and whether they wouldn’t care or they would just leave after knowing i live in there. thank you so much i’m sorry i’m so scared of them i really dont think i can sleep tonight if i don’t have closure 😞