Hannah Davis

Thanks!

Thanks :)

Thanks :)

The ZZZZZ part is called the stabilimentum, which is characteristic of certain orb weaver species. One strong possibility is the genus Argiope (that's my best guess - I know they often pose like this too), but there are a few other genera that use stabilimenta as well.

Whoops, the URL got messed up there. Try this: http://bit.ly/1KZfazj

The genus is probably Argiope, but I don't know what species you have over there :)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argiope_(s...)

Thanks :) I wasn't familiar with this species, but it's apparently an important predator of bark beetles and might be useful for pest control.

In English, it's apparently a lined orb weaver. Gave it the German common name here because I didn't know the English one at the time, and German Wikipedia had an article about it, whereas English Wikipedia didn't :)

Definitely a wolf spider, but I couldn't tell you what species. Female wolf spiders are known for this kind of parenting :)

Female cellar spider (Pholcus sp.), possibly gravid :)