Tan egg cases resembling fried pork rinds contain hundreds of eggs, which hatch in late spring. The tiny parent replicas will consume each other if they are not quickly dispersed by the wind. They also prefer weedy and moist, grassy areas and can often be found on plants that attract aphids. Most adults have red to yellow shells with black spots that vary in number by species. This orb-weaving arachnid spins a new web every night and can be found in open grassy and weedy areas.
Females lay egg masses attached to twigs near the edge of the web.
These arachnids eat insects smaller than themselves and pose no threat to anything larger, despite their spider-like appearance. Eggs laid in the soil in fall hatch in early spring. Learn to recognize the eggs and larvae of beneficial insects. Provide water and shelter, avoid pesticides and allow corners of your garden to become overgrown, and you should have no trouble attracting useful garden visitors.