Insect and Spider Identification: CLOSED: beautiful but strange spider ID needed, 1 by slywlf

slywlf wrote:
I realize this is a long shot, as I did not have my camera handy and drew this in Paint from memory, but I have faith someone will recognize it here ;-) This spider was not in a web, or anywhere near one - it seemed to be sunbathing on the side of my friends Catskills NY (zone 5) house. It's front pair of legs were extended forward together at rest, while the aft sets were splayed out. The abdomen was flattened, not bulbous, almost diamond shaped, with a distinctive pattern like a pine cone. About an inch long from head to butt, overall almost two with the legs extended. Completely rust/tan in color. I really wish I had had my camera, but can anyone ID this beauty?

This message was edited Sep 10, 2012 11:46 AM