Orb Weaver catching a bee!

[Alltheworld601]

I got these photos today when I went to rescue my friend from the "scary spider" that built a web across her entire back porch. I was going to bring him home with me, but once he started taking care of her bee problem, she decided he could stay.

Anyone able to give me the scientific name of this guy, that'd be great:

 

[Ciphor]

Cross orbweaver - Araneus diadematus

Very common this time of year. There color can be black/white like the one in your image, or orange, and rarely colors in between like brown.

Highly beneficial spider, and very docile towards people. When threatened they will either run for retreat, or drop down to the ground and play dead. A light blow on them with your breath will wake them up and send them shooting up their safety line!

 

[SamuraiSid]

Great pics. True spiders are pretty gnarly.

 

[MarkmD]

Nice pics.

 

[Kazaam]

Looks like a Araneus diadematus, aka European garden spider.

There are a lot of them in my garden.

 

[Alltheworld601]

Thanks I actually went online and learned more about them and came to the same conclusion. I never get lucky enough to have these guys in my garden! My friend had to call me over, I'm apparently the spider police. I was going to take it home in a cup, but then it took out a bee, and she said he could stay.

---------- Post added 09-09-2012 at 10:40 AM ----------

I was trying to lure the spider out with a paintbrush and my finger, pretending I Was a bug trapped in the web. He totally didn't fall for it. But then a bee flew in, and in the BLINK OF AN EYE, he was scaling the connecting line, was on top of the thing, and had it mummified before I could get the lens cap off the camera. I had never seen something so fast and incredible.