Spider Identification

[DennisD]

I now have 2 spiders inhabiting my backyard. 1 lives in the top of the patio umbrella, the 2nd just showed up y-day and haven't identified where it lives. These spiders (1 about the size of a qtr and 1 about the size of 1/2 dollar) are kind of furry (versus shiny), black area on abdomen with 2 white spots. Legs as seen in flashlight seem translucent w/ reddish brown spots.

These spiders build webs circular / "target" like webs. The smaller 1 will have a web from patio umbrella to 10-15 foot burr oak that is 10-15 feet away. or the top of the privacy fence 10-15 ft. away. The circular part of the web will be slightly off center of the span.

The larger 1 last night started his span somewhere between 1st & 2fls. and spanned I don't know how far. At least 1/2 of the circular part of the web was above the 1st fl. eaves.. If the spider had been bigger -- I would have thought it was after small birds!!!!!!!!!

Any help telling me what I have here and whether we should just leave alone or what..

Thanks

[dragonfly]

Your description sounds to me like barn spiders, but the ones here don't get quite that large. Is the dominant color of the spiders brown or fleshy colors? If that's what they are, they tend to build their webs higher than most of the garden varieties. I like having most spiders around and don't kill any of them that aren't poisonous and in places likely to bite me.

[Nadine]

The only two spiders you really need worry about have irregular type webs. They are not pretty at all; they have no pattern to them. Such would be the web of a brown recluse or a black widow.