I think that the small spider in the foreground may be a male Black and Yellow garden spider (Argiope aurantia) and the larger one in the background a female of the same species. The body length of male Argiope aurantia spiders ranges from 0.20–0.35 inches (5–9 mm) and for females ranges from 0.75–1.10 inches (19–28 mm), according to Wikipedia.
A male Argiope spider communicates with a potential mate by plucking and vibrating the female’s web, according to the same Wikipedia article, which may explain what was happening when I captured this image on 13 September at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
I saw more than a dozen of the large female spiders at the wildlife refuge during my most recent visit there. Many of them had prey wrapped up in web material, stashed for future consumption. One of them, however, was busily consuming a ladybug, as shown in the second image below.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Excellent nature photos, Mike.
Thanks, Dan. I was pretty happy with the way the photos turned out. I knew that I could not get both spiders in focus for the first shot, but chose an angle where the big spider was visible, although out of focus. That was the plan and it actually worked. 🙂
Nice series of images! Great detail!
Thanks, Reed. I was pretty happy that I was able to capture so much detail with the Tamron 18-400mm lens that I have been using a lot recently. It is not a macro lens, but it has a pretty good maximum magnification ratio of 1:2.9 (vice the 1:1 of a macro lens), which means that I can shoot pseudo-macro shots like these and I can get within about 18 inches from my subject.
well done! Mike it ìs always a great emotion to enjoy your pics…full of wonder, the wonder of Mother Earh! Cheers.
Fabulous photos!
Thanks, Laura. I know from past experience that you are not creeped out by spiders and enjoy them as much as I do. 🙂