Home / Orb Weavers / Barn (Araneus cavaticus)

Barn (Araneus cavaticus)

The Barn spider is an orb-weaving nocturnal species, indigenous to North America, mostly found during late summers and throughout autumn.

Scientific Classification

Barn Spider

 

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size: They exhibit sexual dimorphism when it comes to size as the females who are 0.47 inches to 0.62 inches (12 mm to 16 mm) long are bigger than their male counterparts that are 0.23 inches to 0.39 inches (6 mm to 10 mm).

Color: These spiders are yellow or brown, with grey or dark stripes on their legs. The lower part of their body is black with white markings.

Other characteristic features:  The Barn spider has a hairy body alongside a big, round-shaped abdomen with numerous small humps.

Barn Spider Size

Eggs

The egg sac made using silken thread resembles a cocoon. A single sac has hundreds of eggs within that are round or disc shaped.

Spiderlings

Though not much is known about the size of the spiderlings, they get on their own within a short span after hatching.

Barn Spiderlings

The Web

Being orb weavers, their webs are flat and spiral shaped, made of sticky and less sticky threads to capture prey and support the structure of the web respectively. The webs are mostly spun by the females, who take it down in the day and build a new one every evening. At night they wait in the middle of the web to attack any prey that enters it.

Barn Spider Web

Are Barn Spider Poisonous and Do they Bite

They are not poisonous as their venom is said to be nontoxic to human beings. However, their bite might be equaled to a bee sting, causing redness and irritation in the affected area.

Barn Spider Bite

Quick Facts

Lifespan Approximately one year
Distribution North eastern parts of the United States and Canada
Habitat Wooden structures like rafters, barns and even on boats
Predators Birds and other spiders
Diet Several insects like beetles, ants, moths, flies and mosquitoes
Barn Spider Image

Did You Know

  • The Barn Spider rose to prominence in E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web where it was called Charlotte A. Cavatica, the last name corresponding to its scientific name.
  • Like all other spiders, they too catch the prey by sensing their vibrations as these creatures have poor eyesight.

Image Credits: A4.pbase.com, Wikihow.com, Encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com, D.facdn.net, Farm6.staticflickr.com, C2.staticflickr.com

The Barn spider is an orb-weaving nocturnal species, indigenous to North America, mostly found during late summers and throughout autumn.

Barn Spider

 

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size: They exhibit sexual dimorphism when it comes to size as the females who are 0.47 inches to 0.62 inches (12 mm to 16 mm) long are bigger than their male counterparts that are 0.23 inches to 0.39 inches (6 mm to 10 mm).

Color: These spiders are yellow or brown, with grey or dark stripes on their legs. The lower part of their body is black with white markings.

Other characteristic features:  The Barn spider has a hairy body alongside a big, round-shaped abdomen with numerous small humps.

Barn Spider Size

Eggs

The egg sac made using silken thread resembles a cocoon. A single sac has hundreds of eggs within that are round or disc shaped.

Spiderlings

Though not much is known about the size of the spiderlings, they get on their own within a short span after hatching.

Barn Spiderlings

The Web

Being orb weavers, their webs are flat and spiral shaped, made of sticky and less sticky threads to capture prey and support the structure of the web respectively. The webs are mostly spun by the females, who take it down in the day and build a new one every evening. At night they wait in the middle of the web to attack any prey that enters it.

Barn Spider Web

Are Barn Spider Poisonous and Do they Bite

They are not poisonous as their venom is said to be nontoxic to human beings. However, their bite might be equaled to a bee sting, causing redness and irritation in the affected area.

Barn Spider Bite

Quick Facts

Lifespan Approximately one year
Distribution North eastern parts of the United States and Canada
Habitat Wooden structures like rafters, barns and even on boats
Predators Birds and other spiders
Diet Several insects like beetles, ants, moths, flies and mosquitoes
Barn Spider Image

Did You Know

  • The Barn Spider rose to prominence in E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web where it was called Charlotte A. Cavatica, the last name corresponding to its scientific name.
  • Like all other spiders, they too catch the prey by sensing their vibrations as these creatures have poor eyesight.

Image Credits: A4.pbase.com, Wikihow.com, Encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com, D.facdn.net, Farm6.staticflickr.com, C2.staticflickr.com