Giant Lichen Orbweaver
Araneus bicentenarius
This record describes Araneus bicentenarius (species). Recorded family: Araneidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Female (dorsal/ventral) Male coloration as in female, but with a longitudinal white mark anterior on dorsum; second tibia unusually large.
Classification
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Woodlands, on trees, among lichens.
Geographic Range
This species is widespread: Texas to Florida and north to Minnesota and Nova Scotia. One male reported from New Mexico.
Seasonal Activity
Apr-Sept (BG data)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Araneus bicentenarius ( McCook ) Type specimen collected by McCook during Philadelphia's bicentennial in 1882 . (City founded by William Penn in 1682.)
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Araneus bicentenarius. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
As of 2023, 51,673 spider species in 136 families have been recorded, though an estimated 150,000 species exist. Spiders rank 7th in total species diversity among all organism orders. Only 0.5% of spider species pose any risk to human health.
Ecological role of the group
Spider venom contains complex peptides with diverse pharmacological activities, making them valuable for drug development research. Spiders produce up to 7 types of silk from specialized glands. Spider silk genes have been inserted into mammals and plants for biotech applications.
Economic and practical significance of the group
The global spider community kills an estimated 400-800 million tons of prey annually (2017 study). Spiders provide billions of dollars in natural pest control for agriculture. Spider silk is 5× stronger than steel of the same diameter, driving a biomaterials research industry.
Recorded sources for this group: World Spider Catalog, PNAS, Nature, ScienceDirect. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Giant Lichen Orbweaver (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Troy Bartlett; Additional contributions by cotinis , Lynette Elliott , cheins , Chuck Entz , Mike Quinn , pfeiffer
Frequently Asked Questions About Giant Lichen Orbweaver
What is Giant Lichen Orbweaver?
Giant Lichen Orbweaver (Araneus bicentenarius) is a species in the family Araneidae, within the order Araneae.
How big is Giant Lichen Orbweaver?
13-28 mm (female), 7 mm (male)
How do you identify Giant Lichen Orbweaver?
Female (dorsal/ventral) Male coloration as in female, but with a longitudinal white mark anterior on dorsum; second tibia unusually large.
Where is Giant Lichen Orbweaver found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Woodlands, on trees, among lichens. |
| Range | This species is widespread: Texas to Florida and north to Minnesota and Nova Scotia. One male reported from New Mexico. |
When is Giant Lichen Orbweaver active?
Giant Lichen Orbweaver: seasonal activity - Apr-Sept (BG data).