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Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:

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You'll need a better picture (different camera/lens or getting closer) to hope for a definitive ID. Many, many species of spider out there. Also a location would help with ID.

Location is Mississippi Gulf Coast. I think my friend has arachnophobia.

Looking through Spiders of Mississippi I don't see a great match with both your description and picture, but of the ones listed, there's a possibility yours might be a color variant of this orb weaver?

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This species is relatively variable in color and sometimes pattern, but is most commonly seen sporting a rusty-red or golden orange color. The orb-shaped web is very large and is often constructed on buildings and other man-made structures, especially near outdoor lights. This species is most conspicuous in late summer and early fall.

The original picture doesn't really show the 'black with two orange spots' thing very well but it does give a good sense of leg length-to-body proportions, and this doesn't look quite right.

I have been encountering the same spider here over the past couple of weeks and have not been able to identify it. They are small with a couple orange spots on their back-quite striking in appearance. I have had one build a web between the steering wheel and seat of my atv, and another between the rearview mirror and door of my truck. We have many, many black widows in our barns and this does not resemble them in any way.

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Originally posted by Tommydogg:,,,

Was it a "Cheater Slick" bike?

"Stingray" bike with the large square profile rear tire and no tread. Look like a racing slick with raised white letters and said "Cheater Slick".

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I have been encountering the same spider here over the past couple of weeks and have not been able to identify it. They are small with a couple orange spots on their back-quite striking in appearance. I have had one build a web between the steering wheel and seat of my atv, and another between the rearview mirror and door of my truck. We have many, many black widows in our barns and this does not resemble them in any way.

Thanks. You are in the same region of the country and that provides an exact description of the spider. They are building webs in my Indian Hawthorne bushes. It is good to know that we are not talking black widows here. If I get a chance I will try and get closer to take a better picture.

Just throwing it out there; it's poisonous if you bite it and it hurts you, it's venomous if it bites you and hurts you.

Most all spiders have some venom, but not all will do much harm.

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Originally posted by sigmonkey:

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Originally posted by Tommydogg:,,,

Was it a "Cheater Slick" bike?

"Stingray" bike with the large square profile rear tire and no tread. Look like a racing slick with raised white letters and said "Cheater Slick".

It was similar, but it was a Huffy. I was too common stock for a fancy schmancy Cheater Slick.