Bottlecap-size Orb-Weaver spider, probably Neoscona crucifera
This is a large bottlecap-size Orb-Weaver (Araneidae) spider, probably Neoscona crucifera and not the Cat-Faced Spider (Araneus gemmoides) which looks similar. (I'm sure I've confused them in the past.) It's the same spider that I showed yesterday moving away from its web in this photo. Lucky me, I went back this afternoon and found it sitting in the center of its web. Light is an issue in this place near home on a north-facing slope that loses the sun in winter, but at least I had some sunlight filtered by trees. Arachtober 12. (San Marcos Pass, 12 October 2017)
Bottlecap-size Orb-Weaver spider, probably Neoscona crucifera
This is a large bottlecap-size Orb-Weaver (Araneidae) spider, probably Neoscona crucifera and not the Cat-Faced Spider (Araneus gemmoides) which looks similar. (I'm sure I've confused them in the past.) It's the same spider that I showed yesterday moving away from its web in this photo. Lucky me, I went back this afternoon and found it sitting in the center of its web. Light is an issue in this place near home on a north-facing slope that loses the sun in winter, but at least I had some sunlight filtered by trees. Arachtober 12. (San Marcos Pass, 12 October 2017)