So, this guy is my friend???

[radarmonkey]

Golden Orb Weaver. Very good spider to have around. They are non-aggressive, non-venomous (to humans), eat many, many bugs. They do build large webs (with a tell-tale zig-zag down the middle), but, again, are good to have around your garden. A lot of times if a human approaches their web they will move it to get your attention and prevent you from walking into it. The biggest one I've seen to date had a legspan of about softball size and her web was an easy 4ft long by 2 ft wide.

Holy cow!

 

[dennishoddy]

We have a triple wide window from floor to ceiling looking out into the back yard over a flower bed. We have had a couple build webs over part of that window. Back door has a night light a few feet away from it, so the webs were always full of bugs. They never went hungry. Didn't know they died just before winter. Only one season of life?

 

[sherrick13]

I love orb weavers. Any I see at my house or the gun club get fed well.

 

[druryj]

Must like spicy peppers with the bugs.

 

[trekrok]

I'll admit they scare me, but they are definitely an impressive specimen. And the web engineering and strength is amazing.

 

[leemozoid]

View attachment 225703

Pretty orb weaver. I have two in the front flower box. One was on the front window but had to be relocated when some storm damaged window trim had to be replaced. Beautiful non-venomous spiders who will devastate insects.

 

[DRC458]

She disappeared a day or two after I posted this. There's more pepper plants, and basil, and I don't remember what else in that flower bed, so she's probably in there somewhere!