Missing Sector Orb Weaver
Zygiella x-notata
The Missing Sector Orb Weaver, also called the Silver-sided Sector Spider, has
silvery sides and a silver middle patch on its abdomen giving a superficial resemblance to the False Widow
spider, but they are less shiny and harmless. The common name is derived from their orb webs which always have a sector missing from the orb.
They are often found around houses throughout the year, particularly around windows.
Females are up to 7mm long (head/body length) and males up to 5mm. The Missing Sector Orb Weaver can also resemble its relative,
the Red-sided (Missing) Sector Spider and some can resemble the Thick-jawed Orb Weaver, but the latter has plain rather than banded legs.
This "gold-sided" spider spinning her web in the morning sun is likely to be the Silver-sided but could be the Red-sided.
Juveniles spin new webs daily, adult females only when needed (eg repair after heavy rain) and adult males not at all. Above is an adult female in mid-October.
The web is constructed like a typical orb web with meticulous parallel lines between spokes
but ten minutes are missing from the parallels.
The web owner will sit at the end of the elongated spoke in the missing sector waiting for a vibration on the line to signal prey.
This may be a male.
Sometimes the Sector Spider herself will become the prey of other "window" spiders such as the Lace Weaver.
Links:
Red-sided Sector Spider