CLOSED: What kind of spider is this?

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Kelly0721 Lower Sackville, Canada Sep 01, 2010

I found this spider down at our camp....never seen it before! I am wondering what it is and if it is poisonous?

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Sep 01, 2010

This is Argiope aurantia (family Araneidae), a very common and widespread species (southern Canada through Central America) that goes by a wide variety of common names. Technically venomous (it does have venom glands), it nevertheless is harmless to humans; it is very difficult even to get them to bite, and their fangs are quite small in proportion to their body size. See http://tinyurl.com/2yw6f6 for detailed information.

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SundanceRider Conroe, TX Sep 03, 2010

Yes, it is a Black and Yellow Argiope (Ar-guy-o-pee) or more commonly known as the Writing Spider (notice the series of W's or N's in it's web) or Garden Spider. I have a couple of these beauties under the eaves of my home and I do protect them. I love nature and lucky for me, one of the two built her web where I can stand inside my home and observe her closely through the glass. They have a curious mechanism, if the web is disturbed (noticed this only after she built her egg sack) she moves away from the sack and bounces or vibrates in very exaggerated movements. The web acts like a trampoline for her except that she never let's go of it. Incredible creatures to watch~ Texas here, just north of Houston.

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