can you help identify?

I forgot to say, we live in northern Texas. And the Photos were done on 16. August. If that helps.

The same kind of spider is sitting in my back yard. If anybody knows what kind it is, please let me know. Is it dangerous ? I live in Atlanta, GA. Date = 8/18/03.

This is an Argiope aurantia, otherwise known as a black and yellow garden spider, or a "writing" spider, because he weaves a line of white X's down the center of his web.

Leave them be. They won't hurt us, but they like to eat other things that do!

Thanks! I saw the same spider in my garage in Kansas on 8/21/03. Is it OK to move it?

I live In Southern Louisiana. This same spider has been living on our front porch for about 4 or 5 months now, he has survived a tropical storm and our rainy, humid weather. He has kind of become part of our family now. It seems like his web gets larger and larger each day. I am glad to know that he is not harmful, and now we actually have a name for him. I am so happy that I found this website. Thanks a bunch.

Also many thanks from me for helping me identify our guest, since we are from Germany we don´t know all the animals from here and are also glad the fellow is no harm for our kids.