Let's See Those Insect Photographs...

[BTcigars]

Originally Posted by Mr B

These guys guarded my Tomatoes last season. Their leg span was about the size of a Silver Dollar. They laid 2 egg sacs the size of golf balls in my tomatoes. The new spawn has hatched and are setting up shop in this years veggies. Those are Yellow Jackets in the one web.

Anyone know the name of these spiders? There is a park in my area that has a large foot bridge and the setup shop there. Ive seen them attact some large bees before!

[MarkinAZ]

Originally Posted by BTcigars

Anyone know the name of these spiders? There is a park in my area that has a large foot bridge and the setup shop there. Ive seen them attact some large bees before!

Cross Spider Araneus diadematus
Also known as European garden spider, Diadem spider, or Cross Orbweaver
Family Araneidae (Orb Weavers)

Description: The Cross Spider or Garden Spider is a very common and well-known orb-weaver spider in Western Europe. Individual spiders can range from light yellow, to orange-brown or dark grey, but all European garden spiders have mottled markings across the back with five or more large white dots forming a cross. Usually, the cross-like markings are quite visible. The mother puts eggs in a small coccon, which looks more like a little web.
How big are they? Adult females range in length from 6.5 to 20 millimeters, and the males are 5.5 to 13 millimeters long.
Range / Habitat: Introduced in the United States from Western and Northern Europe. The cross spider lives in parts of North America, in a range extending from New England and the Southeast to California and the Northwestern United States and adjacent parts of Canada.
The cross spider is common in a wide range of habitats, including gardens, meadows, woodland clearings and hedgerows. It is commonly encountered next to buildings with exterior lighting. The spiders can be found in lighted stairwells of structures in rural areas.
Diet: flying insects, such as, flies and mosquitoes.