Araneae147 species

Family Orb Weavers (Araneidae)

Araneidae is a family in the order Araneae. Browse 147 named species recorded in this family, or open an individual profile for its available identification and natural-history information.

Guides

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Species in Araneidae (147)

Starbellied Orbweaver

Acanthepeira stellata

Acanthepeira stellata, known generally as the starbellied orbweaver or starbellied spider, is a species of orb weaver in the spider family Araneidae. It is found in a range from Canada to Mexico.

Aculepeira carbonarioides

This species was generally found in the center of the web during the day while packardi was more often found in a retreat next to the web in daylight hours.

Aculepeira packardi

Identification: Female This species was generally found in a retreat next to the web in daylight hours while carbonarioides was more often found at the center of the web during the day.

Agalenatea redii

Length 5-10mm. Prosoma eye region pale, sternum brown, often with bright median spot. Chelicerae brown. Legs brown, vaguely annulated. Opisthosoma brown, densely haired, with brown longitudinal stripe always visible. On dry grass, shrubs and bushes,

Bifurcate Trashline Orbweaver

Allocyclosa bifurca

Allocyclosa is a genus of orb weaver spiders that contains only one species, Allocyclosa bifurca. It was first described in 1887 by McCook under the name Cyrtophora bifurca, and was transferred to its own genus in 1999. It is the only Cyclosa species

Araneus alboventris

Identification: Carapace, sternum, legs greenish yellow. Bright yellow rings around posterior median eyes. Abdomen dorsum with black patch bordered by crimson red border on golden yellow background. Epigynum

Araneus andrewsi

Identification: Female (adult/juvenile) -also see remarks below Epigynum Compare these two different voucher females, collected only 32 miles apart in California:

Giant Lichen Orbweaver

Araneus bicentenarius

Identification: Female (dorsal/ventral) Male coloration as in female, but with a longitudinal white mark anterior on dorsum; second tibia unusually large.

Araneus bispinosus

Identification: Palp Epigynum See notes below about distinguishing A. bispinosus from A. montereyensis .

Araneus bivittatus

Identification: A. bivittatus is the only species (of the small Araneus ) that has the abdomen longer than wide, widest in the middle, with a median anterior hump and two longitudinal dorsal red or green bands on the abdomen.

Araneus bonsallae

Identification: To separate from other similar looking green Araneus, look for the dark patch on the dorsum. Palp

Araneus calusa

Identification: Distinct red mark anterior on each lateral hump. A pair of red spots posteriorly on each side.

Barn Spider

Araneus cavaticus

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Identification: Araneus cavaticus is often confused with Neoscona crucifera . These two species can be differentiated using two main features: 1) Araneus cavaticus has 'shoulders' near the front on the dorsal side of the abdomen. A. cavaticus N. cru

Humped bog orbweaver

Araneus corticarius

Araneus corticarius is a species of orb weaver in the family of spiders known as Araneidae. It is found in the United States and Canada.

Araneus detrimentosus

Identification: Typical fresh female: Male Abdomen can sometimes be white or white with brown marks. It can looks very similar to A. thaddeus but the only area it appears they overlap is southern Arizona.

Araneus gadus

Identification: Female legs banded, male legs not banded.

Araneus gemma

Identification: Female: carapace and abdomen vary in color from gray to brownish purple. The abdomen has anterior paired humps and may have a medial light stripe that varies in length. Male: similar in color and pattern to the female. This species is

Araneus illaudatus

Identification: It closely resembles A. gemma . Ventral view

Araneus iviei

Araneus iviei is a species of orb weaver in the family of spiders known as Araneidae. It is found in the United States and Canada.

Araneus juniperi

Identification: Juniperi differs from bivittatus by having the abdomen subspherical rather than oval, and the bands much less distinct, separated by lighter green rather than white. Palp

Araneus mammatus

Araneus mammatus is a species of orb weaver in the spider family Araneidae. It is found in the United States.

Black-spotted Orbweaver

Araneus miniatus

Araneus miniatus is a species of orb weaver in the family of spiders known as Araneidae. It is found in the United States.

Araneus niveus

Araneus niveus is a species of orb weaver in the family of spiders known as Araneidae. It is found in the United States.

Araneus nordmanni

Identification: Epigynum (ventral/posterior/lateral)

Four-spotted Orb Weaver

Araneus quadratus

Females can reach 17 mm in length, males approximately half that. The abdomen colour is quite variable, ranging from dark brown to bright orange or yellowy-green. The legs are banded. The appearance of males is quite different from that of the larger

Fierce Orbweaver

Araneus saevus

Identification: “It is apparently quite consistent in color and pattern, being dark gray with a large, broad white slash down the front of the abdomen." - Terry Thormin Light-colored specimens of this species also occur:

Araneus sturmi

Length male: 4-5.5mm. Prosoma brown. Sternum unicoloured brown, darker than coxa. Opisthosoma red-brown. https://srs.britishspiders.org.uk/portal.php/p/Summary/s/Araneus+sturmi No additional images available for this species.

Cucumber Green Orb Spider

Araniella cucurbitina sensu lato

Mainly along woodland edges, hedgerows and other well wooded areas. They spin a small web between leaves and don't hide away but rely on colour for camouflage. Predatory mainly on flying insects caught in its orb web.

Cucumber Green Orb Spider

Araniella cucurbitina sensu stricto

Araniella cucurbitina - Conspicuous red spot above spinnerets, visible only from below. Male femur I with ventral median part lacking bristles (regularly 3 bristles basally, 1 bristle distally). Females difficult to identify as this species with cert

Sixspotted Orbweaver

Araniella displicata

Identification: The possession of three (rarely four) pairs of small black spots on the abdominal dorsum is somewhat diagnostic for this species (Sacher, 1990). Females Males Juveniles Egg Sacs Palp

Araniella inconspicua

Body length male 4 to 5 mm, female 5 to 8.7mm. Prosoma brown. Legs brown. Opisthosoma dorso-laterally always without black spots, ventrally without spots. Detailed examination of genitalia of mature specimens is required to confirm this species. http

Araniella opisthographa

Argiope blanda

Identification: Very similar to A. argentata , however the adult doesn't have the rounded "Mickey Mouse ear" shaped protusions on the anterior of the abdomen. The ventral markings are also different. Epigynum The images placed here are from the sout

Wasp Spider

Argiope bruennichi

Males 7-8mm, females 10-22mm. Large, brightly coloured and distinctively patterned spider. Juveniles and males may be less obvious than mature females. The large orb web is also distinctive with a vertical zig-zag stabilimentum. Grassland and scrub,

Florida Argiope

Argiope florida

Argiope florida, known generally as the Florida argiope or Florida garden spider, is a species of orb weaver in the family of spiders known as Araneidae. It is found in the United States.

Cercidia prominens

Levi was unsure if this species was introduced to North America due to its spotty distribution. It is well known from the Old World.

Cyclosa conica

This is an odd looking spider. It has a single tubercle (hump) on the rear of its abdomen This spider can be quite variable in colour and pattern, however its shape is so distinctive that it is hard to mistake. Usually found in well wooded areas, oft

Eriophora ravilla

Identification: Generally dull brown, sometimes with white or yellow "shoulders" on the abdomen. An alternate color form, seen sometimes in males and sub-adult females, has a large yellow-green patch on top of the abdomen. Also, according to Levi: "S

Humpbacked Orbweaver

Eustala anastera

Identification: E. anastera has 6 basic patterns. Here are 3 that match Levi's drawing very well: Epigynum & scape

Eustala californiensis

Identification: Carapace light brown with paired dark brown patches and dark longitudinal mark in thoracic cleft. Sides with gray lines. One dorsal hump.

Riparian Duncecap Orbweaver

Eustala cepina

Eustala cepina is a species of orb weaver in the family of spiders known as Araneidae. It is found in North America.

Eustala rosae

Identification: Look for the three posterior humps or tubercles in a row to separate from other Eustala in the area.

Spinybacked Orbweaver

Gasteracantha cancriformis

Identification: This species can be easily distinguished from all other spiders. Females may be 5 to nearly 9 mm in length, but 10 to 13 mm wide. They have six pointed abdominal projections frequently referred to as "spines." The carapace, legs, and

Gea heptagon

Identification: Palp This is the only member belonging to this genus.

Gibbaranea gibbosa

A medium-sized orb-weaver (females up to 7mm long) with prominent tubercles on the shoulders of the abdomen. It is often attractively marked with some degree of green and sometimes also pinkish red. The spider spins an orb web on trees and shrubs, es

Hypsosinga pygmaea

Body length 3 to 4.5 mm. Prosoma black-brown, eye region and margin slightly brighter. Prosoma black-brown. Sternum black (c.f. Hypsosinga sanguinea - sternum yellowish red, sometimes darkened). Legs reddish yellow, unicoloured. Opisthosoma strongly

Rubens Orbweaver

Hypsosinga rubens

Identification: Poster median eyes (PME) largest distinguishes Hypsosinga from Singa (Levi, 1972a). Color and size morphology can vary considerably. Male voucher specimen: Palp Epigynum Typical FL variation for females

Pale Frilled Orbweaver

Kaira alba

Identification: Strong resemblance to a leaf or flower bud. Overall warty, bristly, irregular appearance.

Kaira altiventer

Identification: "The epigynum of the female, unlike that of K. alba, has a flat, triangular, curved scape, the tip projecting anteriorly and, like K . alba but unlike others, no humps or tubercles on the posterior of the abdomen. The tiny male can be

Smooth Frilled Orbweaver

Kaira hiteae

Identification: Similar overall shape to others of this genus, but the surface of the abdomen is almost entirely smooth, lacking the bristly texture of the other two species known from the USA.

Larinioides cornutus

Females reach a body length of about 13 mm, males up to 8 mm. A variable species with a dark, distinct V-shape on the abdomen above which there a two pincer like markings. Prosoma (cephalothorax) brown (c.f. Larinioides sclopetarius - prosoma grey).

Larinioides patagiatus

Identification: The Larinioides page describes how to differentiate species of this genus. The carapace of this species can be yellow to orange. Vouchers (Female/Male) Palp Epigynum Eye Arrangement: Web

Larinioides sclopetarius

Females reach a body length of about 10 mm, males are somewhat smaller. Generally black and white and sometimes velvet-like in appearance, prosoma (cephalothorax) grey (c.f. Larinioides cornutus - prosoma brown). Confirmation of this species: "Requir

Cricket Bat Spider

Mangora acalypha

Male 3 mm, female up to 6 mm. Prosoma light greenish, with black margin and median stripe. Sternum almost black. Legs yellowish. Tibia III with 2 rows of plumose trichobothria. Opisthosoma whitish yellow, rarely greenish, posteriorly with "Cricket Ba

Lined Orbweaver

Mangora gibberosa

Identification: Palp Epigynum More common in fields than woods.

Mangora passiva

Identification: Recognized by the two upside-down, comma-shaped light marks on dark background.

Mangora spiculata

Identification: Rereading the key we found that maculata has only three pair of spots at the end of the abdomen while spiculata has more spots or blotches. This is the coastal species from NJ down around to TX. … john and jane balaban, 5 August, 2009

Mastophora bisaccata

Identification: Where M. bisaccata, stowei & yeargani overlap in range they can be separated by the following: 1. M. bisaccata has only venter of femur I dark. 2. M. stowei has all femora dark dorsally and clypeus dark. 3. M. yeargani has no dorsal d

Mastophora phrynosoma

Identification: This species apparently has a characteristic habitus and egg sac morphology - please see text and figures 24-27 in 1955 Gertsch paper found on genus info. page.

Mastophora stowei

Mastophora timuqua

Identification: Mastophora timuqua is distinguished .. by lacking dorsal abdominal pattern and by having ringed legs.

Mastophora yeargani

Metazygia wittfeldae

Identification: Levi, 1977. On page 90 of Levi's bulletin it says "The capapace (in Metazygia) differs from that of Nuctenea (Larinioides) by lacking fine setae".

Metazygia zilloides

Identification: Adult male: Females: Epigynum: Palp: Unlike the related Eustala , Metazygia makes a retreat.

Metepeira arizonica

Identification: Like M. crassipes (unlike M. grinnelli and gosoga) the carapace is very dark brownish black except for the light transverse anterior head region. The following image is closest to the ventral drawing in the work cited: (two white vent

Metepeira comanche

Identification: Anterior light area of head grades gradually into dark area posteriorly. A median light streak in many specimens just anterior to thoracic depression. Legs banded. Venter often with white transverse bar connecting with longitudinal

Metepeira crassipes

Identification: The white sternal band may be broken as in grinnelli . This species is smaller than grinnelli . Females can be confused with arizonica , males are more often confused with ventura . Ventral view has both abdominal vertical white band

Metepeira foxi

Identification: Metepeira foxi differs from all other species north of Mexico, except grandiosa and datona by not having a white longitudinal line on the sternum. It doesn't occur in Florida like datona.

Metepeira gosoga

Identification: Light colored carapace having only the posterior head region dark, by the white abdomen. Two adjacent black marks surrounded by white pigment on the venter. There is a second form that Piel 2001 says is more common than the one Levi d

Metepeira grandiosa

Identification: 2 subspecies - both have no median longitudinal band on the black sternum. - I don't know if these two are still considered subspecies. - alpina - Coxae never black. - grandiosa - More variable than the others.

Labyrinth Orbweaver

Metepeira labyrinthea

Identification: The Spiders of the Eastern US says that the Metepeira labyrinthea can be distinguished from other orbweavers by having longer terminal leg segments "(tarsus plus metatarsus longer than tibia plus patella)". It does have the longitudin

Metepeira minima

Identification: The following image is closest to the ventral drawing in the work cited: (two white ventral marks & 4 spots around spinnerets)

Metepeira palustris

Identification: No median longitudinal band on the black sternum. Black coxae, sometimes yellow coxae or both black and yellow coxae. This species was formerly considered a subspecies of M. grandiosa .

San Miguel Island Orbweaver

Metepeira pimungan

Identification: White eye region. White median ventral mark on abdomen flanked by shorter parallel thin lines on either side. Black sternum with white teardrop shaped mark on the posterior half. Legs mostly white with with bands on legs 3 & 4. Spinne

Metepeira spinipes

Identification: Coloring is pronounced and leg banding is more distinct than the similar M. labyrinthea . Most species have the ventral white line of the sternum broken by black pigment; sometimes the anterior or posterior part of the line is missing

Metepeira ventura

Identification: A median light streak may be present on the carapace and the light sternal band is sometimes broken. The middle of the posterior head region often has a light streak not found in grinnelli, crassipes or arizonica . The following image

Arrowshaped Micrathena

Micrathena sagittata

Identification: Female: three pairs of pointed tubercles on the abdomen, with the rear pair large and spreading to give the abdomen a triangular look. Tubercles are black-tipped and red at the base. The center of the dorsum is yellow. Male abdomen do

Spotted Orbweaver

Neoscona domiciliorum

Identification: More brightly colored than Neoscona crucifera , and with the part of the legs closest to the body bright red. Females "have a bright white or grayish yellow abdominal dorsum, with lateral wide, black stripes on each side." (University

Neoscona utahana

Identification: On dorsal side of abdomen, look for a dark 'V'-shaped folium that is bordered on the outside by a thin white line. Immature female: Likely adult female: Adult male:

Walnut Orb Weaver

Nuctenea umbratica

Size: females can grow to 15 mm, males grow to 11 mm. They have a distinctive flattened body, which enable the species to hide in crevices. The walnut colouration of the abdomen gives the species its common name. The darker central portion with zig-z

Ocrepeira ectypa

This nocturnal spider builds a specialized web with no sticky threads. Built in the fork of a small branch, the web consists of several radii connected to a small hub. The radii act like trip wires to alert the spider to prey walking along the branch

Golden Silk Orbweaver

Trichonephila clavipes

Identification: Male Female has a long cylindrical body, up to about 50mm or 2" by the end of the season, yellow to brownish-orange abdomen with silvery spots and silvery cephalothorax. Three of its four pairs of legs have hairy black patches above t

Zygiella atrica

Size female about 6.5 mm, male smaller about 4 mm. Most (but not all) specimens have more red-brown colouration than Zygiella x-notata , but the species need to be separated by an expert for identification purposes. Very difficult to distinguish from

Zygiella dispar

For the northwest: "Which species can't be told from color alone. Z. x-notata and Z. atrica occur in urbanized habitats, the former on buildings and the latter on trees. Z. dispar is found in natural forest." …Rod Crawford, 15 June, 2008

Zygiella x-notata

Zygiella x-notata females are up to 11mm in size, males up to 7mm. Variable in colour; the cephalothorax (first body section) is a translucent yellow brown; the opisthosoma (second body section or abdomen) has a leaf like pattern. Very difficult to d