Yellow garden spider (writing spider)

Gardens, shrubs, grasslands, and house exteriors across much of North America. It builds large orb webs in sunny, sheltered vegetation or around buildings.

It captures and eats flying and jumping insects, including flies, moths, bees, grasshoppers, and wasps. Prey is wrapped in silk and consumed after immobilization.

The female remains in the web, often resting in a distinctive zigzag silk decoration called a stabilimentum. Adults mature in summer or fall; egg sacs overwinter, with spiderlings emerging the following season.

Not medically dangerous to people; it may bite only if handled, causing localized pain and irritation. It benefits gardens by reducing insect pests and is generally nonaggressive.