Spined micrathena

Description:

These spiny orb-weavers spin a large tightly spun web usually in wooded or bushy areas.

Habitat:

Spotted in a hardwood forest at Pinnacle Mountain State Park.

Notes:

The only web-building members of the species are the females. Females are 8–10 mm long. They exhibit a bulbous abdomen with a total of ten spines. Males exhibit a fair amount of sexual dimorphism. They tend to be around only half the size of the females. Also, they have fewer spines, a flatter abdomen, and a slightly lighter tone. Although males can produce silk, they mostly use it in the mating ritual, which frequently also proves fatal.(Wikipedia)