Orb weaving spider

5783   Hi there, Just wondering if you can id this spider for me. I took this photo this afternoon in a mosquito net under an apple tree nearby. I’m in Grantville, Cape Breton. It appears to have a small web in the net’s peak. It’s about 3 cm long tail to tip.  Thanks.  Adam

This is a male orb weaving spider in the genus Araneus; likely A. marmoreus, an extremely variable species. See http://tinyurl.com/jmh6ujq for another example. Ed Saugstad, retired entomologist; Sinks Grove, WV.