Is this a spider I need to be worried about?

Question

There is a very large (in my opinion) spider living on my front porch. It only comes out at night. Here are two pictures of her. I'm sorry they are not great, I'm quite frankly terrified of her and don't want to get too close. I didn't get a good photo of the top-side, but it is very large and flat, like a turtle or a tick. The belly appears to be furry as well, that is visible in the photos.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e26/Kales008/Spider2.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e26/Kales008/Spider.jpg

I am just worried it may be a poisonous spider.

The only other information I have about her is that she goes absolutely nuts if you blow on the web or anything lands, she runs up and down and back and forth and shakes the web violently, though she does not go in the direction of the disturbance really. Also, I saw her eating a bug and it appeared that she was stabbing it with her front legs repeatedly.

My location is central Indiana and any information is very much appreciated! Thank you!

Answer 1

looks like a regular garden spider, if you don't touch it there should be no problems and it will help keep the insect population down

Answer 2

All, spiders are venomous, but this kind isn't dangerous. Because you live in Indiana, there are only two species you should really look out for; the black widow, which looks similar to the spider in your picture, but is smaller, black and has a red hour glass shaped mark, and the brown recluse, which is also small and has a violin-esque mark on its abdomin.

Answer 3

He looks harmless to me.

Don't be afraid of spiders. they eat other insects you really don't want around.

Answer 4

looks just like the ones that hand around my porch here in arkansas-lol-never known them to cause problems-when you blow on web-its a defense mood-thinks its a bird or something after it-so shakes web to break up preys focus