Need some help identifying this spider

[Zelg]

Hello all. Cant say im into insects much but I was out herping the other day (mostly just exploring new territory and getting lost) and came across two of these. First I just saw the web hanging off the tree and i went around looking to see if anyone was home and saw this guy so I nudged him a bit cause I could hardly even tell it was a spider since he was mostly balled up (legs tucked). However when I nudged him he scurried down as fast as he could and stopped in the middle of his web. I took the photo with my phone and was unable to get my dang camera to focus on the guy. I ended up with a pretty picture of trees. However you can get a good idea of what it looks like in the center.

I did a couple of google searches on spiders in california and came up empty. For reference, I live in san luis obispo and this was in Los Osos.

It was very interesting to see this guy tucked away in the tree with two little legs out holding two strands of his web waiting for some poor sap to come flying into his trap. Very cool

[Zelg]

These are the best photos I could get. The lighting there was giving my camera trouble on most angles and wouldnt focus. Hope its enough though.

[Zoo Nanny]

From the pictures I would guess an Orb Weaver species. This site gives some information.
Spider Survey - Identifying Spiders | Natural History Museum of Los Angeles

[eminart]

Agreed, it's some kind of orb weaver (but there are many different species).

Also spiders aren't insects.

[sharthun]

Originally Posted by eminart

Agreed, it's some kind of orb weaver (but there are many different species).

Also spiders aren't insects.

Yep Orb weaver of some type! Spiders can be very hard to identify down to species.

[Zelg]

Originally Posted by eminart

Agreed, it's some kind of orb weaver (but there are many different species).

Also spiders aren't insects.

Oh elementary school learnings...where have you gone?!



Thanks for the replies!