Humpbacked Orbweaver
Eustala anastera
This record describes Eustala anastera (species). Recorded family: Araneidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
E. anastera has 6 basic patterns. Here are 3 that match Levi's drawing very well: Epigynum & scape
Classification
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Nova Scotia south to Florida and west to Alberta, Washington and California
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Eustala anastera (Walckenaer, 1841)
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Eustala anastera. 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 Humpbacked Orbweaver (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by cotinis , Lynette Elliott , Jeff Hollenbeck , cheins , Chuck Entz , Mike Quinn , kschnei
Frequently Asked Questions About Humpbacked Orbweaver
What is Humpbacked Orbweaver?
Humpbacked Orbweaver (Eustala anastera) is a species in the family Araneidae, within the order Araneae.
How big is Humpbacked Orbweaver?
5-8 mm (female), 4-6 mm (male)
How do you identify Humpbacked Orbweaver?
E. anastera has 6 basic patterns. Here are 3 that match Levi's drawing very well: Epigynum & scape
Where is Humpbacked Orbweaver found?
Range: Nova Scotia south to Florida and west to Alberta, Washington and California