Just a common garden spider (Arachnophobes beware!-photo)

I went to my front porch and just happened to look over and saw the most magnificent spider!

She/He is a beauty! I think it must be an "orb weaver" although the forum I went to for ID is closed... Bummer!



I think it must be a "she". If it is a garden variety orb weaver as I suspect, she should have left the web to go give birth to 300-900 eggs! It has been unseasonably warm in Tennessee so maybe, some insects, animals, and the like are confused what time of year it actually is.
PennState Fact Sheet

It is also known as a "Cross Spider" originally from Europe.
Cross Spider Facts

True story: When my girls were little and they were frightened by a spider they would holler "MOM!"...not DAD...he is terrified of spiders and wants me to kill this one! He can't do it with his eyes closed from about 20 feet away screaming like a banshee!
I will "relocate" her later now that my photo needs have been met...LOL!


She IS participating in the Halloween festivities though as she is perched on her beautiful meticulously sculpted web (wish my stupid phone took better photos!) very close to one of my decorations...

We went through the season of those spiders just last month. There were two who took up residence on our patio and one that took up residence just outside our front door. We have a motion activated spotlight outside the front door, so the one out there was fed quite well, and for a couple weeks it was a game to dodge the large spider web every morning.

I think a bird must have finally got it as it was there when we left and not there when got back with the web shredded.

Speaking of orb weavers ... here's another really cool find.

a reply to: TNMockingbird
So, you're the spider slayer lol. Is this like your husband?

a reply to: ketsuko

That's cool you guys just let it stay there, though I bet you didn't mind the lack of bugs.

I always try and keep them alive/around if it doesn't get in the way to much. Or if I can relocate it to some where I will do that.
My mom was the spider savior growing up, guess it rubbed off on me.

Is that picture one you took or just one you found.

a reply to: ketsuko

That's beautiful!

I would have been the same "dodging the web!"

A couple weeks ago i had left my window open in my truck And when I got in it the next morning had a big one of these orb weavers and it's web on the passenger side window and dashboard. Scared the hell out of me. Thank god for bug spray!

a reply to: Skid Mark

OMG!!!
LMAO!!!
THAT'S him except.....

He would have been jumping up and down...I tell him he's a sissy...

I say, you better leave the room, this could get messy and then just grab it and throw it outside...
He'll say, from the safety of the other room, is it gone?

Yes dear, it's gone!

2 days later he'll scream, IT'S BACK, THE DAMN THING HAD BABIES IN HERE! LOL!

Now Brown Recluses and Widows are a different story!

a reply to: Sremmos80

It's one my husband took with his phone at my folks' place.

a reply to: TNMockingbird

2 days later he'll scream, IT'S BACK, THE DAMN THING HAD BABIES IN HERE! LOL!

Show him this one. He'll be thrilled.

a reply to: Skid Mark

I showed him!
His response was "EVACUATE! GET THE KIDS OUT!"
"IT MUST BURN!"

This one appeared in my basement last week. I live in Wisconsin and have never seen colors like that on a spider. But because of the colors, a few of my friends recommended that I let it bite me and see if I turn into anything...

Google searched and found the "running spider" has similar colors, but I'm still at a loss. It's about the size of a quarter dollar.

I let it live btw

This whole thread should be set on fire.

a reply to: Sremmos80

Same though bugs creep me out. Any spiders that get inside the house get the cup and paper treatment and out the door they go.

a reply to: AugustusMasonicus

I warned you...

LOL!!!

a reply to: DuckforcoveR

THAT is awesome!
Could it be THIS SPIDER

OR...
THIS ONE

I can't tell from the photo but it looks pink and greyish...

a reply to: TNMockingbird

His response was "EVACUATE! GET THE KIDS OUT!" "IT MUST BURN!"

Kind of like this guy:

Just hope that this doesn't happen or you're toast:

a reply to: Skid Mark

My ANONYMITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, you got us!!!

LOL!

I was hoping that video would go away!!!

Seriously though, he's not THAT dumb but, he DOES panic!

The second one for sure! That has to be it. It was very red in the legs but the abdomen was grayish blue, almost had that "two tone" car paint look. But I think my mysterious roommate is outed now, thanks!

a reply to: TNMockingbird

a reply to: Skid Mark

We make jokes about it, but it actually does happen.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says a 17-year-old girl who tried to swat a spider on her lap allegedly caused a four-car crash in Barton County Sunday that sent 11 people to a local hospital.

So yeah, we joke about it, but for this group of unfortunate folks, arachnophobia sent them to the hospital.

a reply to: TNMockingbird
Lol I wasn't implying he was dumb, just panicky. It really could be a lot worse.