These are common garden spiders, not harmful at all to humans and are, indeed, beneficial because they eat flies, gnats, mosquitos, etc. Their babies over-winter in sacks in the webs (after the female - shown here - dies) and then break out in the spring. That's why it's uncommon to see them do it...old web and that sort of thing. They love gardens and sunny spots. Call them Charlotte and love 'em!!

Jan in VA

These are no joke. I live on a farm and we have them all over. They make the webs just as shown. We called them corn spiders I do not know what the correct name is. I have seen these spiders get as big a round as your palm.

It is a garden spider, they are beautiful and their webs are very interesting and intricate. I always leave them alone and just watch them.

Thanks for sharing this, and to all of the others who suggested sites about this most interesting spider.

Ask him if he wants to quilt with you!

thank you!

Runnnnnn,what a monster...gives me shivers!!!

Not a fan of spiders in any shape, size etc. I am pretty much terrified of them, and run the totally other way. I have been known to capture(would rather capture than wonder if its going to crawl on me) bugs by putting bowls over them, so hubby could take them and do what ever he does with them. But I will give this one credit, its interesting to look at, from afar and that web is amazing.

That is one scary looking spider The web is kind of neat but I HATE SPIDERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We have these same spiders in Texas too and I have always heard them called "garden" spiders. And do they get big! They catch lots of insects and I have never had one come into the house. I've seen the zig-zag design in their webs too, and just always thought of it as a repair after a large insect had been caught.