What type of spider is this?

-Trek-

OK, let me start with the obligatory - hope this is the right forum and if not please feel free to move it.

So I have a new resident outside by bedroom window and just wondering if someone would be able to identify it. Its probably the same leg span as your run of the mill wolf spider that you'll find stuck in the bath tub, with the exception this one has a huge a$$:D.

EDIT: Actual after a bit of searching reckon its a European garden spider

sorry about the pic quality, but you know camera phones.




Yum yum ...

Improbable

Yes, you are indeed correct.

El Siglo

I like this bit:

"The much smaller male will approach the female cautiously in order to mate. If not careful, he could end up being eaten by her."

Sounds like a night out in coppers...;)

-Trek-

El Siglo wrote: »

Sounds like a night out in coppers...;)

.....or marriage (but that's for another thread)

subway

would this be another of these type of spiders?
im not sure what to call the little "spikes" on its legs but it looks like a pretty cool little thing

Improbable

That looks like it might be an orb-weaver

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Araneus_quadratus