Spiny-backed orb-weaver (also called the spiny orb-weaver)

Gardens, woodland edges, and other places with shrubs or trees; common in the Americas, especially warm regions.

Catches small flying insects, including flies and mosquitoes, in a circular web.

Females build orb webs and rest at the center; their hard, spiny abdomen helps deter predators. They are generally solitary and not aggressive.

Harmless to people and not medically significant. It helps control insect populations; its web may be inconvenient around buildings or paths.