Neoscona arabesca is a common orb-weaver spider in my back yard
 

Found this guy in my back yard. He has been back there for several days now. Makes a complex web each night and it's gone by morning. Out of all the things that animals build, I think spider webs are the most fascinating. A very basic animal some how figures out how to anchor its web (this one is about 4 ft from top anchor to bottom anchor) at multiple points for stability, then it can make the web in concentric circles that are dam near spot on. And they build it in a mater of 2 hrs or so.

This is a stock image. Once I upload mine I'll post it.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...sca_female.JPG

They've been active this year. They like building in my door frames. I don't really like killing them but after walking into the web a few times I do if I can spot them.

If you count the lines in the web, you'll find there's a consistent number of lines per species. Here's a spotted orb weaver (neoscona crucifera) on my deck. 27 radial strands, 63 spirals. This is a female, caught in the act of building her web.

Seriously Frank? Now I have to go out tonight and count strands and spirals. Like I do not have better things to do at night .... :D

They build near my back porch motion light. Apparently they eat quite well from the carcasses on the floor I sweep away.