Apparently, all argiope spiders are commonly called St. Andrew’s Cross spiders, for the way they stretch their legs into an elongated X shape while sitting in their webs (I had erroneously thought that the name came from the large X pattern many of them weave into their webs). My particular spider is Agriope aurantia, otherwise known as the black and yellow garden spider, yellow garden spider, orb weaver, and writing spider. They’re non-aggressive, but even if they do bite, their venom isn’t generally bothersome to humans.
red paper boat 