Spined Micrathena Spider Micrathena gracilis Live orb weaver photographed at Winfield, Illinois, USA.
The spined micrathena spider is rather common in the woods where I shoot insect pictures here near Chicago. They spin rather large webs, and the spiders themselves are very difficult to see; I often walk through the webs by accident. I hate doing it, seeing as how spider silk comes very dear to the spider.
