The image you posted is most definitely NOT a Brown Recluse. The well defined spinnerets at the tip of the abdomen are those of a spider that is a "web user". I don't mean it spins a beautiful, elaborate web (can't tell that from a single picture) but it certainly has the complex spinnerets needed to spin out the multiple types of webbing that "web using" spiders employ. Web users are much more abundant than "non-web users". Brown Recluse have simple, rudimentary spinnerets because they do not employ web silk in the capture of prey. I don't even think Brown Recluse even lay down a "drag line" as lots of web users will when traversing a vertical surface. I have seen many Brown Recluse climbing up, down, or across vertical surfaces when surprized at night (by suddenly turning on a light) and sometimes they panic and try to run, but fall or jump, and I have never seen one "catch itself" or lower itself on a drag line of silk as is so common with real Jumping Spiders. It is my understanding that Brown Recluse limit web use to "sewing themselves in" when they select a lair in which to hide and rest, and the female creates a "maternal web" in which to deposit her eggs (which she will remain in and guard until the eggs hatch). To add to hoodat's offering, the practice of spinning the strand of web to catch a breeze is called "ballooning". http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=yfp-t-947-s&va=brown+recluse&sz=all Here is a link that might be useful: Brown Recluse (or not)?

Danetherton is the only one who's got it in the ballpark. This is one of the Dolomedes genus, also known as "Fishing" or "Dock" spiders, and they are in the Pisauridae family, which includes the Nursery Web Spiders. Based on the light-colored cephlathorax, the geographic range and the size, it's most likely a large female Dolomedes albineus, or White-Banded Fishing Spider. While a bite would hurt, these are not medically-significant in terms of venom and are not aggressive at all. I have caught related species, D. tenebrosus and D. triton, in fishing nets and handled them without incident, even though the former were as large as my hand, and I've also kept D.okefinokensis in captivity, again, without any sign of aggression or threat display. The position of this spider's legs is highly typical of all Pisauridae spiders and sets it apart from Lycosids(Wolf Spiders)and Sparassidae(Huntsmen). It bears absolutely no resemblance whatsoever to any of the Recluse species, which are certainly not capable of attaining legspans of 5-6 inches! Here is a link that might be useful: Dolomedes albineus

She certainly seems to be one of the many species of Argiope but not one that I'm familiar with.

I have been growing sweet peas on my balcony and a few days ago noticed this strange looking spider thing sitting on its egg! Have now realised there are loads of tiny little green things on other parts of same plant. Have tried looking closely and they don't look as though they have wings, there are also 3 or 4 empty egg sacs around leaves so I am wondering if they are babies of the spider thing?? Have looked at the spider, it definitely has 8 legs but can't find anything that looks like it on Google pics! Please can anyone help identifying what these are and how I can fix this problem? Thank you.