Identify a Connecticut spider

Never saw one like this so thought I would ask

[Winston]

I live in Fairfield County Connecticut.
recently I knocked a spider off of my Jappanesse maple. It could have been the source of some very big webs streching to a nearby lampost. What is unusual is its'back. It is bigger than a pencil eraser,yellow with green dots. The head is red.
Legs look very short,because they are always curled up, but are good length when extended. Not having seen one like this before I thought I would pose this questions to you experts.
What do I have? It is here beside me in a covered glass.

Winston

[Woz]

Hi Winston, thanks for dropping by.

Unfortunately I am not sure we can help you as this forum is all about "Search Engine Programs" commonly called spiders. Nothing to do with the 8 legged variety I am afraid.

However, try clicking on this link [google.com] and you should get some better places to ask.

The spider you have caught sounds not very nice so I hope you find the information you are looking for.

Onya
Woz

[MaliciousDan]

A little off topic but that sounds a LOT like a picture of a spider I saw while looking for information on brown recluse spiders (we get em here in the office). What that means to you is it looks a lot like a spider with a necrotic venom (makes your skin rot), hopefully if that's the case you haven't got to many of them hanging around.

[LeBain]

Or you could try this arachnid search link:

[140.211.62.101...]