Giant lichen orb weaver spider

5739   Hi there,  My name is Rebecca. I live in Hammonds Plains, NS. I found this spider on my back deck this morning. It’s a hot, sunny, feels like 27 degrees 8:30am.

This is another orb weaving spider (family Araneidae) in the genus Araneus; likely Araneus bicentenarius, known as the giant lichen orb weaver – see http://tinyurl.com/jekst4y for an image. This species is widely distributed over the eastern half of North America. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.