Black-and-White Spiny Spider

Description:

Female Black-and- Whit Spiny Spiders are 6 -9 millimeters wide and possess hard shiny abdomens armed with six black conical spines. The upper surface of the abdomen is white to yellowish with variable black or dark brown markings and sigilla. Males are much smaller at 3-4 millimeters in size and in place of spines, they have small bumps on their abdomens. (Wikipedia) The underside of the abdomen is (in my opinion) even more beautiful that the upper surface, being covered in extremely detailed brown and white markings.

Habitat:

I spotted this spider, starting to weave a web, on a Button Orchid (Dischidia sp.) growing on a Bignay Currant Tree (Antidesma bunius) in our front yard, but I have previously seen this species on a variety of forest trees.

Notes:

Order; Araneae, Family; Araneidae, ,