CLOSED: Tiny spider with orange and black pattern

lizardmarsh Bellingham, WA Aug 09, 2020

I have been noticing a tiny spider outside since my cat discovered it July 16th. What do you think the ID is? I posted him/her a few times on Instagram since then. This is yesterday's post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CDpIXHWnLof/
Thank you.

Post #10495919

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Flapdoodle Minot, ND Aug 09, 2020

Obviously an orb weaver (family Araneidae). Without being able to see the diagnostic markings, I can only surmise that it might be the cross orb weaver (aka European garden spider - it occurs on both sides of the Atlantic), Araneus diadematus - see https://spiderid.com/spider/araneidae/araneus/diadematus/

Post #10495923

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lizardmarsh Bellingham, WA Aug 11, 2020

Thank you, Flapdoodle! This is fascinating! I will eagerly look at all the references in the link you provided. A very impressive creature! I saw him in action this morning. I seem to remember at 5:30 am his web was fine; then at 6:30 am he was speedily re-building practically from scratch as the web seemed to have disappeared. I took some video and posted two clips on Youtube, and will update his diary on Instagram. My photography is still not optimum but itsy bitsy improvements😉. I had seen a possible egg sac in the web, but don't have a picture of it. One of my IG folks said maybe it was lunch. It did look like a miniature burrito. It wasn't there more than 24 hours. Another lady on IG called it a "Garden Spider" so she knew something; she said she loved seeing them but doesn't see them much anymore. So intriguing to have 26 days so far to watch this heroic figure building and re-building, patiently waiting in the wind, sun, storms, and other hardships. I wonder if enough food drifts by, and how a bird hasn't got him. Thanks again.

Post #10496112

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lizardmarsh Bellingham, WA Aug 14, 2020

I didn't remember earlier but I do have image of possible egg case. It was at the lower left edge of the web prior to it being held in the center by the spider. This was Day 11 of watching the spider outside on the other side of the glass.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDH7kULn9qo/
Today is Day 30 and he seems fine. This morning I saw a great 4+ minute Youtube from 2010 :-) https://youtu.be/2EXNZfHYzIk

Post #10496479

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Flapdoodle Minot, ND Aug 14, 2020

Here is an image of an egg sac of this species - it would not be placed in the center of the web, nor would it be moved once it was constructed.
https://warehouse1.indicia.org.uk/upload/p17b8268ke15blqvsvvabm9faj4.jpg

Post #10496481

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lizardmarsh Bellingham, WA Aug 25, 2020

Thanks again, Flapdoodle. That is good to know! Really appreciate your knowledge
and replies. Spidey has moved on now. We observed him for 36 days! This was my last entry for him:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CENNrDMHgGi/?igshid=8y72clf3iy8q