Couple more spidery things for identification.

Question

These are not living in my mailbox and I have no intention to kill them so long as they stay outside.

I went out to get a picture of a specific spider that I've seen a dozen times or so in my back yard. I couldn't find it, but I can describe it. It's about a half inch in diameter and round. Red and spiny, like a sea urchin on a web. Most of the webs have been in the bushes, but I've seen a couple stretched out between the patio chairs. The dog has managed to dismantle those by sweeping her tail through them.

While I was out looking for THAT spider, I happened upon THIS spider on the outside of my window:

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p258/sredrose/spider1a.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p258/sredrose/spider1b.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p258/sredrose/spider1c.jpg

It has spun a web between the grill, the patio bar and the window. It's about an inch and a half long with long black legs. Its body is about the size and shape of a small orange seed. It is a shiny mint green color with black stripes on top, and black with bright orange spots on the rear end and the abdomen. You can't really see the coloring in the pictures, but you can see its shape.

What ARE they? Are they venomous, or just there? Like I said, I plan to leave them alone until they come indoors, at which point they will swiftly be removed, stomped on and/or eaten, depending on who finds them and whether the finder is human or canine.

Answer 1

Looks or sounds like a garden spider.  They're neither poisonous or aggressive so much, as you don't want them clamping onto your forehead just as you look up into their large webs, while mowing your lawn.

http://images.google.com/images?client=s...

Answer 2

I think the spider in your photos is an Orchard Spider. They will bite if you handle them, but aren't considered to be venomous. Here are some pic's of them:

http://images.google.com.au/images?gbv=2...

The red spider with spines is probably a Spiny Orb Weaver Spider, sometimes called Jewel Spiders or just Spiny Spiders. They vary a lot in colour and number of spikes, depending on the species. They aren't considered to be venomous either. When I was a kid, I used to pick up one of the Spiny Spiders that we have here in Australia and let them walk around on my hand. They're cute spiders.

Here are a few pic's of Spiny Spiders:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3017/2569...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2297/2135...

http://www.jadeisle.com/SpinySpider.JPG

Hope that helps.