Spined Micrathena Spider

A large orange spiny spider that elicits a gasp from anyone coming across this one! About 1.5 cm long. It runs rapidly from net attachment to net attachment when threatened. It also makes a large but irregular web. Reports for this species say they have 10 abdominal spines and come in a wide variety of colors from black, white, purple, yellow, orange etc. They are supposed to make CD-like webs (i.e. very compact) but the ones I've seen in this locality all have neglected webs. Micrathena species are members of the Orb Weaver Spiders.