Yellow garden spider (black-and-yellow argiope)

Sunny, sheltered vegetation such as gardens, meadows, forest edges, and vine-covered structures. It builds large orb webs among tall plants.

It captures and consumes flying or jumping insects, including flies, moths, grasshoppers, and bees. Prey is wrapped in silk and externally digested.

The spider typically hangs head-down at the web’s center, often with a conspicuous zigzag stabilimentum. Females mature in summer, produce egg sacs in fall, and die after laying eggs; young overwinter inside the sacs.

It is nonaggressive and its bite is uncommon, usually causing only localized pain and irritation. It benefits gardens by reducing populations of many insect pests.