CLOSED: Spiders in Central Iowa

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Chillybean (Zone 5a) Aug 24, 2015

1. Not sure where to begin, sort of looks crab-like.
2. Crab spider with body size of about a 1/4 inch. I was smashing Oleander aphids when I found this one. Glad I didn't smash this. I did try searching and the closest I have come up with is Mecaphesa asperata.
3. Maybe an Orb Weaver in the Araneus genus? I sure need to find a spider field guide. :)

One I think I have identified... is a Long-bodied Cellar Spider. She was carrying an egg sac around in my house. I'll get that posted for verification after it is taken off the other camera.

Thumbnail by Chillybean Thumbnail by Chillybean Thumbnail by Chillybean
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Flapdoodle Minot, ND Aug 25, 2015

The first spider looks more like an orb weaver (family Araneidae) than a crab spider (family Thomisidae) to me, but I cannot put a handle on it right now.
You likely are correct with the identity of the second spider, but that species usually is hairier than the one I you imaged – see http://www.pbase.com/tmurray74/image/146067690 for an example.
The third spider is in the family Theridiidae; likely in the genus Theridion – see http://www.blc.edu/assets/img/academics/biology/spiders_web_lg/Theridion_frondeum_1.jpg for an example.

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Chillybean (Zone 5a) Aug 26, 2015

Thank you so much for your help. I hope I can get the families down at some point. :)

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