Any bug/spider people here? What is this? PIP

laurenshay

It is at my friend's new house and she is freaked out.  I have an idea as to what kind it is, but I wanted other opinions. 

Thanks ladies.

Peachfor3

Sorry, don't know, but holy frick.  I would freak out too!!

mrs.serrato85

That is.. SCARY

It looks huge and those colors look like it "warning" you of something.

Whatever it is I hope we dont have them in CA!

jillianfries

I think it's a garden spider.

I don't know why I opened this post because I am now grossed out.

thequeeenbee

I seriously just got shivers all over my body!

Deirdre18

Holy crap...I just got the shivers looking at that thing!! So ugly.....oh my

peppermintgirl

jillianfries:

I think it's a garden spider.

I'm pretty sure you're right. Just an orb-weaver.

mykatydee

St. Andrews Cross Spider?

kmw0004

I tried to google this for you, but just couldn't do it. This spider does not have the usual yellow and black garden spider pattern though. I don't think that is what it is, but I could be wrong.

laurenshay

peppermintgirl:

jillianfries:

I think it's a garden spider.

I'm pretty sure you're right. Just an orb-weaver.

Is that the same thing as a "Zipper Spider?"

That is what I thought it was.  She told me that after I told her the name that it does have a "zipper in its web."  I wanted other ideas.  Zipper spiders are harmless.  I was wanting ta make sure she didn't need to be afraid for her girls (3 year old twins).

NewLerma

It looks a little like a tiger spider, only uglier, so maybe a breed of that?

jillianfries

Garden spiders are harmless, but I'm not sure what that is.

PnJ Mooney

I am not a bug/spider person, but I just heard something on the news last night about a new spider called a Brown Widow, related to the Black Widow and might be more harmful.  The pattern on the legs stood out to me to be similar, but i can't tell from your pic if that is the underside.  Underside will have a red spot.  Google Brown Widow for a good pic.  hope that helps

tntotx

My husband is a biologist and he looked it up for you.  It is called a black and yellow argiope (Argiope aurantia).  It can be googled.  Nonpoisonious, but their bites can hurt. 

Mary0913

It looks like it needs to be squashed.  That creeps me out just looking at it!