Christmas Spider
Merry Christmas from insectpod.com! I apologize for running a spider on a non-Friday but this was the only red and green bug in my entire photo collection. This photo comes from Joe, whom you might know as b13 on the comments sections here. Joe has a photo blog at b13fotographica.blogspot.com that you absolutely must check out, especially if you like ridiculously cute border collie puppies with your bugs!
Joe doesn’t have an ID for us, but says this spider is smaller than his pinky fingernail. I have already established that I am not any good at any identification, but I have also established that I don’t let this inadequacy slow me down. 
I think it’s a garden spider of some kind. The front legs are long enough to be a crab spider, and there are a few crab spiders that are shaped like this. However, spiky hairy legs are quite uncommon in crab spiders.
Ah! Bugguide.net to the rescue! While browsing through Genus Araneus, I stumbled upon a spider with identical coloration. I think this is Araneus cingulatus, which is indeed an orb weaver.
Slowly getting the site back onto an even keel. It's nice to get back into the old posting rhythm.
b13 said,
December 26, 2007 @ 6:54 pm
bugguide.net to the rescue indeed! That is exactly the same spider
LAURA said,
July 15, 2008 @ 3:28 pm
I came home from work and saw one of these little cuties hanging from my door! I tried to get a good picture of him, but, to no avail. I ended up then putting him on the nearest leafy bush, I didn’t want him to be harmed by being stepped on, or having him decide he would like to make a surprise web that greeted me in the face in the middle of the night, while I stepped out to walk the dogs. And, then leaving me to wonder whether he is in my hair or not! LOL