Orb-weaving spider

7001.        I was at the park with my kids and noticed this little guy clinging to a stick on of my daughters was playing with. Never seen a spider like this an have been unable to find a matching photo on the internet. It was very small, maybe the size of a green pea. Just curious. Thanks! Saint-Lazare, Québec. Canada

Number 7001. This is an orb-weaving spider (family Araneidae); it appears to be in the genus Araneus. Click here for an example; but I am unable to put a specific name on it. I suspect that it is an unusual colour morph of an otherwise common species.