No need to worry about this pretty argiope spider. They are your best friend when it comes to eating bugs. I think it is hilarious the way they will bounce their web as a way to try to scare people off. When I was young, I used to catch grasshoppers and toss them into their webs. They were quick to seize those hoppers and wrap them up for dinner.

It looks to be a yellow garden spider. Scientific name is Argiope aurantia. I'll include a link:-)

If you scroll down and check out some of the external links listed on the wikipedia page you will get to see lots more pictures of your new little buddy!

Here is a link that might be useful: Wikipedia

I just came to GW to look up my visitor and saw your post. I have three of them in my irises. The biggest one gave me a shock this morning.

Beautiful clear photos of a beautiful mysterious creature! According to the link (thanks Rebecca!) there is still much not known about their life cycles. I love them.

Those are scary looking. My grand kids call them Charlottes after Charlottes Web.

Well we LOVE ours, he's become enormous in the last two weeks or so. We've let him build up his web for a while now, starting when he was just a wee thing. He must eat his weight in flies and mosquitoes, because he grows like crazy - therefore, he is a very welcome guest. :)
We just remind the pest control guys when they come out not to bother him.

-Oh, and thanks for that link, Rebecca!

I found one this week living in my coreopsis! I need to go check on him and see if he's gotten any bigger.

Stephanie

foosacub,

You are lucky to have an argiope--they are also known as the "Gardener's Friend", and as "Banana Spider". They usually just build their web which has a very distinctive herringbone or zig-zag pattern to it, and wait for the "bad bugs" to arrive. We have several, and are grateful for their help in controlling destructive insects.

Oh those are so awesome! I love those spiders! And I normally don't care for spiders. Though I recognize the good they do us and leave them be, unless I find them ON ME, and then they're toast. But the big yellow and black garden spiders are so neat! Congratulations!