Just happened to wander across this thread... since Im a spider fan I thought Id chime in. Basically the only spiders you have to worry about (read:deadly) in the US are the black widow and the brown recluse.
The black widow is of course, quite famous. Shiny black body with red hourglass marking on the abdomen. Theyre quite small (usually dime sized). Ive seen a few here... mostly in junkyards or abandoned places. They prefer outhouses, fenders in abandoned cars, log piles, or under trash can lids. They will not build webs in busy places. The small webs are crazy in design, and dont look like your neat standard spider web. Unless youre looking for them, youll very rarely see one (not usually indoors). Found in the southern US.
The brown recluse is another we have here in texas (and is found in the south and midwest). Its also called the "fiddle back" because it has an upside violin shape on its back. These guys are usually a bit bigger (around quarter sized), brown legs with light tan abdomen. Theyre basically wanderers and prowl around dark warm places. They sometimes build small erratic webs in attics or closets.
The spider in your pic is neither one. Probably a harmless garden spider. One of the most beautiful things youll ever see is a large garden spider variety, about four inches long, bright yellow and black stripes. They build HUGE intricate webs several feet across (not unlike your web) with neat zig zag designs down the middle. The zigzag pattern is extra sticky and attracts insects. Anyhow, enough spider talk... back to fishies!
The are commom in Indiana and Illinois. Like to see more pics also.
