Yan Bingwu (Chinese, B. 1954) & Yang Wenqing (Chinese, B. 1951) "Spinybacked Spider" Signed lower left. Original Watercolor on Silk/Rice Paper. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This watercolor appeared on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the 33c Spinybacked Spider Classic Collection Series stamp issued October 1, 1999. Abundant in temperate regions such as Florida, the Spinybacked Spider -- Gastercantha cancriformis -- is one of America's most colorful and easily identified spiders. The dorsum of the abdomen is usually white with contrasting black spots. Large red spines appear on the margin, hence the common name, Spinybacked Spider. It deceives its prey as it hangs head down in the center of its web, looking like a small piece of leaf, a chip of wood or a piece of fruit. Tufts of silk are woven into its web to prevent birds from flying into them. When this spider takes down its web to build a new one, it ingests the old silk -- a valuable source of protein. Spiders manufacture silk from the silk glands located in the abdomen. Each gland produces a different kind of silk for various uses, such as wrapping captured prey, building the egg sac when breeding, and web construction. When a spider begins to build a web, it releases a silk thread that is carried by wind and attaches to an object such as a twig. The spider secures the thread and crosses the newly formed bridge, reinforcing the other end. It then crawls toward the center of the thread, which becomes the hub of the web structure. Size: 14.25 x 12 in. Unframed. (B16494)