Shell Spider (Micrathena)
I photographed these spiders in the woods near my house in Mooresville, NC in August, 2001. These are common in N.C. woods. You probably have walked through their webs, but may not have noticed the spider. This spider has a hard, spiny shell on its back that prevents predators from wanting to eat it. They spin an orb web.
ronaldpatterson@windstream.net