Trashline Orbweaver, female and male

Description:

Small orb weaver spider. Females string prey along middle of web in a vertical line and then hide along it. They are perfectly colored to camouflage within (see if you can find the spider in the first three shots). Females have two small anterior dorsal humps and a larger hump off the end of the abdomen. When disturbed, the female would move up and down the line of debris and occasionally make little bouncy movements then settle against the line to disguise herself again. Males of this species are smaller than the females and are dark in color (see last two pictures). They have two small white dots on their dorsal abdomens and reddish legs.

Habitat:

Suburban backyard garden.

Notes:

The male was hanging out on the edge of the web, probably biding his time for some love.