European garden spider (cross orb-weaver)

Gardens, hedgerows, woodland edges, and other vegetation-rich areas. It commonly builds webs among flowers and shrubs.

Carnivorous; it captures flies, moths, aphids, and other small flying insects in an orb web, then immobilizes them with silk and venom.

Mostly nocturnal and waits near the web’s center or a nearby retreat. Adults mature in late summer, mate, and produce an egg sac before dying as cold weather arrives.

Harmless to people; bites are rare and generally mild. It benefits gardens by reducing pest and other flying-insect populations.