Amazing Arachnid

[gairid]

This morning I was out front, doing a little gardening before the sun burned through the clouds and made it way too uncomfortable. Anyway, I was trimming back the exuberant golden privet and as I was gathering up the branches to put in the brush pile, I caught sight of this awesome spider. As you can see, her very large abdomen is a splendid lemony

Comments

[mumsisdaughter]

Super pics, amazing spider. If you manage to identify it, I'd like to know.

[gairid]

I will--I've posted the shots in a few identification comms. She was a very handsome spider, and I'm glad I got a chance to get the photos. :)

[mumsisdaughter]

The abdomen shape puts me in mind of a mite rather than a spider but I think it's too big to be a mite...haha.

[gairid]

I have it from someone on one of the comms that she's likely Araneus trifolium or something very similar-an orbweaver, anyway!

[mor_than_this]

This spider looks like a potato with legs, lol.
It is beautiful, as so are the pictures.
How can you tell it's a female?