We've got at least four freaky and yet thematically appropriate spiders in our front and side yard right now.

Spiny orb-weaver - Wikipedia

welp, time to set fire to your yard

The big plate covering their abdomen can be white or yellow, and the spines can be red, orange, or black.

They're actually pretty harmless!

They'll generally only bite you if you pick them up or something, and it's not something you need to seek medical attention for if it does happen.

And the spines aren't venomous or anything, either. The worst you can get from one is a slight pinprick.

well see with me, that is something I would set the yard on fire for

But the spot pattern on their back kinda looks like a skull, doesn't it?

like those things from Zelda

Skulltulas...?

Oooh, yeah!

I forgot about those!

maybe they're the RL inspo?

there was an article about how this couple in Australia were trapped in their house because a huntsman's spider decided to chill on their door

it was the size of a dinner plate

that's something you set your house on fire for tbh

These guys are pretty small, though.

Like, not even half the size of my pinky nail.

Also, Australia.

everything is bigger in Australia

but this is why I live where the air hurts my face

Australia is basically where God decided to hit "randomize" on animal traits a bunch of times and see what happened.

...so Australia is basically the Sims

lol

like my Testing neighbourhood in Sims 2

I got some really gorgeous sims out of it!

...and then some that were abominations

what fucking level of hell did it crawl out of we just don't know

-- Australia

(probably)

But these spiders are kind of perfect, if a little early, for Halloween!

...Though this one guy who always puts a bunch of inflatables and other decorations in his yard for Halloween and Christmas already has his stuff up.

I'm like, dude, we've still got two weeks left of September (when he was setting them out)

it's the first day of autumn

it's perfect timing

the spiders know

lol

I know one of them was in our yard a few days ago, at least, since I saw the web as I was pulling out of the driveway

Their webs have these little fluffy tufts of silk built into them in various spots that make them easier to see

Scientists aren't 100% sure why, but they figure it's to help birds spot the web and avoid flying into it and ruining all that hard work

huh