Grass Cross Spider

This Argiope catenulata, because it appears to be very rare in our area, has become an important part of my daily routine. Since I almost never have the opportunity to see this kind of spider, I decided that I have to make the most of it while I have the chance. So, I resolved to make daily visits to the rice field (in recent days I have sometimes gone out to look at it twice or even three times on one day). As luck would have it, I just couldn't make a visit yesterday. So, today, I decided to make up for lost time and try to get as many photos as possible. Early this morning, I set out and arrived at the spot, nice and early. There was the bamboo stick that I had pushed into the mud of the rice field to mark the spot, but where was my spider? She was not there. I had a moment of panic - had a spider wasp carried her off to feed her to its larvae or perhaps a mantis decided she would make a good snack? However, I soon calmed down because there was no trace of her web. That was a good sign. If she had been a victim of predation, her web would be wrecked, but the wreckage would be there. There was no web. So, i could safely assume that she had moved to a better spot. It took me well over an hour to find her, but find her I did. She was only about a metre away from her original position, but there she was, on a nice new web with a One-arm Stabilimentum. So, I took a great many pictures and resolved never to miss a daily visit again. If you are wondering why it took me so long to find her, the reason is that she makes her web just below the top of the rice grasses and, in the half metre radius from her original position, there must be thousands of rice blades. But enough with the excuses, I have my spider back again (and a new marker stick). I will be on my way out, for a second visit today, as soon as I post this spotting.