While Garden Orb Weavers are growing by eh day at the moment it is the end of the line for this summers Wasp Spiders. The adults do not make it through the winter and to ensure that their offspring hatch while it is still warm enough to forage, they lay early and then protect their eggs in their silken basket until they hatch. The protective mother then passes away haven not eaten during her vigil.
You can can just make out the now skinny adult to the left of cocoon.
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer