Location: Southeast Door, English Counseling Services Building
Object: Post-It Note
Observations: 1) Last Friday (Sept 12), a spider moved in to a corner space outside the ECS Building, between the Southeast door and the exterior wall. Its arrival was announced by a Post-It note reading “BEWARE OF SPIDER (PLS LEAVE ALONE),” and an arrow pointing down…. to another directional Post-It note.
2) This second Post-It note announces “SPIDER” with a smiling face — an expression that may or may not be on the faces of those passing through the doorway after reading the notes. 3) For most of the past week, the spider has indeed been present in the announced location, except for a few times when it has moved out of the direct afternoon sunlight, tucking itself into a small space at the corner of the building, or briefly relocating somewhere else. 4) The web is surprisingly flexible and resilient, withstanding the frequent opening and closing of this door that many use throughout the day. The location has also provided sustenance, thanks to the nearby bioswale landscaping and the exterior building lights which attract insects.
5) An image search reveals that we have been hosting an Argiope aurantia, otherwise known as a yellow garden spider, black and yellow garden spider, and golden garden spider. It is also known as a zigzag spider and, perhaps most appropriately for its location, as a writing spider. 6) It’s not clear how long this Argiope aurantia will be visiting the ECS Building, but it certainly offers a pre-Halloween vibe — and a reminder of how it’s possible to co-exist peacefully in the world.
— Karin Westman, Department Head
K-State English 