The Cross Orb Weaver is a European and North American spider. The legs of these spiders are adapted for spinning orb webs from which they get their common name. This spider was introduced in the United States from Western and Northern Europe.
Size: Like most other spider species, the adult females are larger than the males with a length between 6.5 and 20 mm (0.26 to 0.79 in), whereas the males are between 5.5 and 13 mm (0.22 to 0.51 in).
Color: The coloration between individuals can vary, ranging from very light yellow to dark grey. However, the mottled white markings across the dorsal abdomen, alongside four (or sometimes more) segments forming a cross mark is are common to all.
Other Characteristic Features: The silk of the spider is very durable using which, they can spin large and complex orb-webs with a diameter of up to 40 cm.
After copulation, the females lay about 200-900 eggs in a sac that remains hung from the web. The size of the egg sac itself is nearly the same as the size of the adult garden spiders. The sac is covered in brown silk and is durable enough to protect the baby spiders from strong winds and predator attacks.
The baby spiders overwinter within their eggs and hatch out to disperse only when spring arrives. The mother spiders die soon after laying the eggs, and can neither wait to protect the sac, nor the newborn offspring or assist them in finding food, and hence, the spiderlings grow up by themselves.
The bite of the Cross Orb Weaver is not painful or dangerous, but rather, slightly unpleasant. They are also not venomous, and the bite is harmless to humans.
| Other Names | European garden spider, diadem spider, pumpkin spider, orangie, cross spider, crowned orb weaver |
| Lifespan | The average lifespan of the female is twelve months; however, most of them die after laying eggs; the males are often consumed by the females after mating |
| Distribution | In parts of North America throughout a range that extends from New England, as well as in the Southeast to California and the Northwestern US and adjacent regions of Canada |
| Habitat | They are found in a varied range of habitats, including meadows, woodland clearings, hedgerows, human-made gardens, as also, next to buildings especially those with exterior lighting (where they can prey upon insects very easily) |
| Common predators | Mostly birds, but also various reptiles including lizards |
| Diet | Usually flying insects, including flies and mosquitoes |
Image Credits: Riveredgenaturecenter.org, C1.staticflickr.com, I.pinimg.com, Voubs.com, Curbstonevalley.com, Isfba.bugpeople.org,
Alpinelady.files.wordpress.com
The Cross Orb Weaver is a European and North American spider. The legs of these spiders are adapted for spinning orb webs from which they get their common name. This spider was introduced in the United States from Western and Northern Europe.
Size: Like most other spider species, the adult females are larger than the males with a length between 6.5 and 20 mm (0.26 to 0.79 in), whereas the males are between 5.5 and 13 mm (0.22 to 0.51 in).
Color: The coloration between individuals can vary, ranging from very light yellow to dark grey. However, the mottled white markings across the dorsal abdomen, alongside four (or sometimes more) segments forming a cross mark is are common to all.
Other Characteristic Features: The silk of the spider is very durable using which, they can spin large and complex orb-webs with a diameter of up to 40 cm.
After copulation, the females lay about 200-900 eggs in a sac that remains hung from the web. The size of the egg sac itself is nearly the same as the size of the adult garden spiders. The sac is covered in brown silk and is durable enough to protect the baby spiders from strong winds and predator attacks.
The baby spiders overwinter within their eggs and hatch out to disperse only when spring arrives. The mother spiders die soon after laying the eggs, and can neither wait to protect the sac, nor the newborn offspring or assist them in finding food, and hence, the spiderlings grow up by themselves.
The bite of the Cross Orb Weaver is not painful or dangerous, but rather, slightly unpleasant. They are also not venomous, and the bite is harmless to humans.
| Other Names | European garden spider, diadem spider, pumpkin spider, orangie, cross spider, crowned orb weaver |
| Lifespan | The average lifespan of the female is twelve months; however, most of them die after laying eggs; the males are often consumed by the females after mating |
| Distribution | In parts of North America throughout a range that extends from New England, as well as in the Southeast to California and the Northwestern US and adjacent regions of Canada |
| Habitat | They are found in a varied range of habitats, including meadows, woodland clearings, hedgerows, human-made gardens, as also, next to buildings especially those with exterior lighting (where they can prey upon insects very easily) |
| Common predators | Mostly birds, but also various reptiles including lizards |
| Diet | Usually flying insects, including flies and mosquitoes |
Image Credits: Riveredgenaturecenter.org, C1.staticflickr.com, I.pinimg.com, Voubs.com, Curbstonevalley.com, Isfba.bugpeople.org,
Alpinelady.files.wordpress.com
