It is common to the contiguous United States, Hawaii, southern Canada, Mexico, and Central America.

These spiders may bite if disturbed or harassed, but the venom is harmless to non-allergic humans, roughly equivalent to a bumblebee sting in intensity.

[7] Yellow garden spiders often build webs in areas adjacent to open sunny fields where they stay concealed and protected from the wind.

The spider can also be found along the eaves of houses and outbuildings or in any tall vegetation where they can securely stretch a web.

The web of the yellow garden spider is distinctive: a circular shape up to 2 feet (60 cm) in diameter, with a dense zigzag of silk, known as a stabilimentum, in the center.

To ensure that the web is taut, the spider bends the radial lines slightly together while applying the silk spiral.

The yellow garden spider can oscillate her web vigorously while she remains firmly attached in the center.

[8] This action might prevent predators like wasps and birds from drawing a good bead, and also to fully entangle an insect before it cuts itself loose.

However, in a case observed in Georgia, Davis witnessed a Vespa crabro fly into the spider's web and get tangled up.

Though these spiders are not aggressive, people who are very young, elderly, or who have compromised immune systems should exercise caution, just as they would around a beehive or a hornet nest.

Their webs are usually characterized by a zigzag shaped stabilimentum (an extra thick line of silk) in the middle extending vertically.