Leucauge

The Leucauge spiders belong to the long-jawed orb-weaver family. Can you believe there are about 167 different types of them by August 2020? These spiders are found all over warm, tropical places. Get ready to discover interesting facts about these unique spiders!

Scientific Classification

Leucauge Spider

Spiders Belonging to this Genus

  • Leucauge abbajae
  • Leucauge abyssinica
  • Leucauge acuminata
  • Leucauge albomaculata
  • Leucauge amanica
  • Leucauge analis
  • Leucauge annulipedella
  • Leucauge apicata
  • Leucauge arbitrariana
  • Leucauge argentea
  • Leucauge argenteanigra
  • Leucauge argentina
  • Leucauge argyra
  • Leucauge argyrescens
  • Leucauge argyroaffinis
  • Leucauge argyrobapta
  • Leucauge atrostricta
  • Leucauge aurocincta
  • Leucauge auronotum
  • Leucauge aurostriata
  • Leucauge badiensis
  • Leucauge beata
  • Leucauge bituberculata
  • Leucauge blanda
  • Leucauge bontoc
  • Leucauge branicki
  • Leucauge brevitibialis
  • Leucauge cabindae
  • Leucauge camelina
  • Leucauge camerunensis
  • Leucauge capelloi
  • Leucauge caucaensis
  • Leucauge caudata
  • Leucauge celebesiana
  • Leucauge clarki
  • Leucauge comorensis
  • Leucauge conifera
  • Leucauge cordivittata
  • Leucauge crucinota
  • Leucauge curta
  • Leucauge decorata
  • Leucauge digna
  • Leucauge ditissima
  • Leucauge dorsotuberculata
  • Leucauge dromedaria
  • Leucauge emertoni
  • Leucauge eua
  • Leucauge fasciiventris
  • Leucauge festiva
  • Leucauge fibulata
  • Leucauge fishoekensis
  • Leucauge formosa
  • Leucauge fragilis
  • Leucauge frequens
  • Leucauge funebris
  • Leucauge gemminipunctata
  • Leucauge granulata
  • Leucauge hasselti
  • Leucauge hebridisiana
  • Leucauge henryi
  • Leucauge idonea
  • Leucauge ilatele
  • Leucauge insularis
  • Leucauge iraray
  • Leucauge isabela
  • Leucauge japonica
  • Leucauge kibonotensis
  • Leucauge lamperti
  • Leucauge lechei
  • Leucauge lehmannella
  • Leucauge leprosa
  • Leucauge levanderi
  • Leucauge linyphia
  • Leucauge liui
  • Leucauge loltuna
  • Leucauge lombokiana
  • Leucauge longimana
  • Leucauge longipes
  • Leucauge longula
  • Leucauge macrochoera
  • Leucauge mahabascapea
  • Leucauge mahurica
  • Leucauge malkini
  • Leucauge mammilla
  • Leucauge margaritata
  • Leucauge mariana
  • Leucauge medjensis
  • Leucauge mendanai
  • Leucauge meruensis
  • Leucauge mesomelas
  • Leucauge moerens
  • Leucauge moheliensis
  • Leucauge nagashimai
  • Leucauge nanshan
  • Leucauge nicobarica
  • Leucauge nigricauda
  • Leucauge nigrocincta
  • Leucauge nigrotarsalis
  • Leucauge obscurella
  • Leucauge opiparis
  • Leucauge papuana
  • Leucauge parangscipinia
  • Leucauge pinarensis
  • Leucauge polita
  • Leucauge popayanensis
  • Leucauge prodiga
  • Leucauge profundifoveata
  • Leucauge pulcherrima
  • Leucauge pusilla
  • Leucauge quadrifasciata
  • Leucauge quadripenicillata
  • Leucauge regnyi
  • Leucauge reimoseri
  • Leucauge roseosignata
  • Leucauge rubripleura
  • Leucauge rubrotrivittata
  • Leucauge ruwenzorensis
  • Leucauge sabahan
  • Leucauge saphes
  • Leucauge scalaris
  • Leucauge semiventris
  • Leucauge senegalensis
  • Leucauge severa
  • Leucauge signiventris
  • Leucauge simplex
  • Leucauge soeensis
  • Leucauge speciosissima
  • Leucauge spiculosa
  • Leucauge splendens
  • Leucauge stictopyga
  • Leucauge striatipes
  • Leucauge subadulta
  • Leucauge subblanda
  • Leucauge subgemmea
  • Leucauge superba
  • Leucauge synthetica
  • Leucauge taczanowskii
  • Leucauge taiwanica
  • Leucauge talagangiba
  • Leucauge tanikawai
  • Leucauge tellervo
  • Leucauge tengchongensis
  • Leucauge tessellata
  • Leucauge tetragnathella
  • Leucauge thomeensis
  • Leucauge tredecimguttata
  • Leucauge tristicta
  • Leucauge tupaqamaru
  • Leucauge turbida
  • Leucauge uberta
  • Leucauge undulata
  • Leucauge ungulata
  • Orchard Orbweaver (Leucauge venusta)
  • Leucauge vibrabunda
  • Leucauge virginis
  • Leucauge viridecolorata
  • Leucauge volupis
  • Leucauge wangi
  • Leucauge wokamara
  • Leucauge wulingensis
  • Leucauge xiaoen
  • Leucauge xiuying
  • Leucauge zizhong

Leucauge Argyrobapta

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

  • Size: Female spiders are 0.2 – 0.5 inches (0.5 – 1.2 cm) and males are smaller with around 0.1 inches (0.2 cm).
  • Color: Spiders of the genus are generally bright, coming in colors of orange, silver, green, and brown. However, the females have distinct black, yellow, and silver markings, distinguishing them from their male counterparts.
  • Other Characteristic Features: On the femur bone of their fourth legs, curved and slender hairs can be seen.

Eggs

300-500 eggs are kept inside an egg sac made with loose orange silk. The sac is usually created near twigs or leaves. The eggs are 0.35 inches (0.01 cm) in size on average.

Spiderlings

After overwintering, spiderlings come out and disperse in the spring season.

The Web

Their web is similar to orbs slanting at a 45° angle. The spider chooses to sit in the middle of the web, facing downwards.

Leucauge Web

Are Leucauge Spiders Venomous?

Yes, Leucauge spiders have venom. But for humans, it’s usually not very strong. They mostly use their venom to help catch their food.

Can Leucauge Spiders Bite?

Leucauge spiders can bite, but it’s not common. If they do bite, it might feel like a tiny pinch, but it’s not usually a big concern for most people.

Ecological Importance and Behavior of Leucauge Spider

Leucauge spiders play a crucial role in their ecosystems, contributing to the control of insect populations. Their unique web structure and strategic hunting techniques make them efficient predators in their habitats. The spiders exhibit diurnal behavior, being active during the day, and they rely on their vision to detect and capture prey.

Natural Predators and Prey-Predator Dynamics: Birds and larger insects serve as natural predators to Leucauge spiders, maintaining a balance in the ecosystem. The spiders’ agility and venomous bite aid in their survival, allowing them to capture prey while evading predators.

Relationship with Humans: Leucauge spiders and humans coexist peacefully in most scenarios. Due to their non-aggressive nature and the low potency of their venom, these spiders pose minimal threat to humans. Educating the public about these spiders can foster a harmonious relationship, as their presence is beneficial in controlling insect populations in human habitats.

Leucauge Decorata

Quick Facts

DistributionIndia, Costa Rica, China, Russia, Japan, Taiwan, New Guinea, and Sulawesi Island of Indonesia
HabitatMoist places
DietMoths, flies, wasps, beetles, mosquitoes
Web TypeOrb-web
LifespanFemales live around 1 year and males often get eaten by the female post-mating

Did You Know

  • Scottish zoologist, Adam White documented the genus for the first time in his book ‘Description of New or Little Known Arachnida’.
  • In 1832, Charles Darwin took the first specimen of the genus, now known as Leucauge argyrobapta. He was the one who recommended the genus name.
  • The name of the genus originated from the Greek word ‘Leukos’, meaning white.

Leucauge Spider Image

In conclusion, Leucauge spiders, with their vibrant colors, intricate webs, and vital ecological roles, stand as a testament to the incredible diversity and adaptability of arachnids.

The Leucauge spiders belong to the long-jawed orb-weaver family. Can you believe there are about 167 different types of them by August 2020? These spiders are found all over warm, tropical places. Get ready to discover interesting facts about these unique spiders!

Leucauge Spider

Spiders Belonging to this Genus

  • Leucauge abbajae
  • Leucauge abyssinica
  • Leucauge acuminata
  • Leucauge albomaculata
  • Leucauge amanica
  • Leucauge analis
  • Leucauge annulipedella
  • Leucauge apicata
  • Leucauge arbitrariana
  • Leucauge argentea
  • Leucauge argenteanigra
  • Leucauge argentina
  • Leucauge argyra
  • Leucauge argyrescens
  • Leucauge argyroaffinis
  • Leucauge argyrobapta
  • Leucauge atrostricta
  • Leucauge aurocincta
  • Leucauge auronotum
  • Leucauge aurostriata
  • Leucauge badiensis
  • Leucauge beata
  • Leucauge bituberculata
  • Leucauge blanda
  • Leucauge bontoc
  • Leucauge branicki
  • Leucauge brevitibialis
  • Leucauge cabindae
  • Leucauge camelina
  • Leucauge camerunensis
  • Leucauge capelloi
  • Leucauge caucaensis
  • Leucauge caudata
  • Leucauge celebesiana
  • Leucauge clarki
  • Leucauge comorensis
  • Leucauge conifera
  • Leucauge cordivittata
  • Leucauge crucinota
  • Leucauge curta
  • Leucauge decorata
  • Leucauge digna
  • Leucauge ditissima
  • Leucauge dorsotuberculata
  • Leucauge dromedaria
  • Leucauge emertoni
  • Leucauge eua
  • Leucauge fasciiventris
  • Leucauge festiva
  • Leucauge fibulata
  • Leucauge fishoekensis
  • Leucauge formosa
  • Leucauge fragilis
  • Leucauge frequens
  • Leucauge funebris
  • Leucauge gemminipunctata
  • Leucauge granulata
  • Leucauge hasselti
  • Leucauge hebridisiana
  • Leucauge henryi
  • Leucauge idonea
  • Leucauge ilatele
  • Leucauge insularis
  • Leucauge iraray
  • Leucauge isabela
  • Leucauge japonica
  • Leucauge kibonotensis
  • Leucauge lamperti
  • Leucauge lechei
  • Leucauge lehmannella
  • Leucauge leprosa
  • Leucauge levanderi
  • Leucauge linyphia
  • Leucauge liui
  • Leucauge loltuna
  • Leucauge lombokiana
  • Leucauge longimana
  • Leucauge longipes
  • Leucauge longula
  • Leucauge macrochoera
  • Leucauge mahabascapea
  • Leucauge mahurica
  • Leucauge malkini
  • Leucauge mammilla
  • Leucauge margaritata
  • Leucauge mariana
  • Leucauge medjensis
  • Leucauge mendanai
  • Leucauge meruensis
  • Leucauge mesomelas
  • Leucauge moerens
  • Leucauge moheliensis
  • Leucauge nagashimai
  • Leucauge nanshan
  • Leucauge nicobarica
  • Leucauge nigricauda
  • Leucauge nigrocincta
  • Leucauge nigrotarsalis
  • Leucauge obscurella
  • Leucauge opiparis
  • Leucauge papuana
  • Leucauge parangscipinia
  • Leucauge pinarensis
  • Leucauge polita
  • Leucauge popayanensis
  • Leucauge prodiga
  • Leucauge profundifoveata
  • Leucauge pulcherrima
  • Leucauge pusilla
  • Leucauge quadrifasciata
  • Leucauge quadripenicillata
  • Leucauge regnyi
  • Leucauge reimoseri
  • Leucauge roseosignata
  • Leucauge rubripleura
  • Leucauge rubrotrivittata
  • Leucauge ruwenzorensis
  • Leucauge sabahan
  • Leucauge saphes
  • Leucauge scalaris
  • Leucauge semiventris
  • Leucauge senegalensis
  • Leucauge severa
  • Leucauge signiventris
  • Leucauge simplex
  • Leucauge soeensis
  • Leucauge speciosissima
  • Leucauge spiculosa
  • Leucauge splendens
  • Leucauge stictopyga
  • Leucauge striatipes
  • Leucauge subadulta
  • Leucauge subblanda
  • Leucauge subgemmea
  • Leucauge superba
  • Leucauge synthetica
  • Leucauge taczanowskii
  • Leucauge taiwanica
  • Leucauge talagangiba
  • Leucauge tanikawai
  • Leucauge tellervo
  • Leucauge tengchongensis
  • Leucauge tessellata
  • Leucauge tetragnathella
  • Leucauge thomeensis
  • Leucauge tredecimguttata
  • Leucauge tristicta
  • Leucauge tupaqamaru
  • Leucauge turbida
  • Leucauge uberta
  • Leucauge undulata
  • Leucauge ungulata
  • Orchard Orbweaver (Leucauge venusta)
  • Leucauge vibrabunda
  • Leucauge virginis
  • Leucauge viridecolorata
  • Leucauge volupis
  • Leucauge wangi
  • Leucauge wokamara
  • Leucauge wulingensis
  • Leucauge xiaoen
  • Leucauge xiuying
  • Leucauge zizhong

Leucauge Argyrobapta

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

  • Size: Female spiders are 0.2 – 0.5 inches (0.5 – 1.2 cm) and males are smaller with around 0.1 inches (0.2 cm).
  • Color: Spiders of the genus are generally bright, coming in colors of orange, silver, green, and brown. However, the females have distinct black, yellow, and silver markings, distinguishing them from their male counterparts.
  • Other Characteristic Features: On the femur bone of their fourth legs, curved and slender hairs can be seen.

Eggs

300-500 eggs are kept inside an egg sac made with loose orange silk. The sac is usually created near twigs or leaves. The eggs are 0.35 inches (0.01 cm) in size on average.

Spiderlings

After overwintering, spiderlings come out and disperse in the spring season.

The Web

Their web is similar to orbs slanting at a 45° angle. The spider chooses to sit in the middle of the web, facing downwards.

Leucauge Web

Are Leucauge Spiders Venomous?

Yes, Leucauge spiders have venom. But for humans, it’s usually not very strong. They mostly use their venom to help catch their food.

Can Leucauge Spiders Bite?

Leucauge spiders can bite, but it’s not common. If they do bite, it might feel like a tiny pinch, but it’s not usually a big concern for most people.

Ecological Importance and Behavior of Leucauge Spider

Leucauge spiders play a crucial role in their ecosystems, contributing to the control of insect populations. Their unique web structure and strategic hunting techniques make them efficient predators in their habitats. The spiders exhibit diurnal behavior, being active during the day, and they rely on their vision to detect and capture prey.

Natural Predators and Prey-Predator Dynamics: Birds and larger insects serve as natural predators to Leucauge spiders, maintaining a balance in the ecosystem. The spiders’ agility and venomous bite aid in their survival, allowing them to capture prey while evading predators.

Relationship with Humans: Leucauge spiders and humans coexist peacefully in most scenarios. Due to their non-aggressive nature and the low potency of their venom, these spiders pose minimal threat to humans. Educating the public about these spiders can foster a harmonious relationship, as their presence is beneficial in controlling insect populations in human habitats.

Leucauge Decorata

Quick Facts

DistributionIndia, Costa Rica, China, Russia, Japan, Taiwan, New Guinea, and Sulawesi Island of Indonesia
HabitatMoist places
DietMoths, flies, wasps, beetles, mosquitoes
Web TypeOrb-web
LifespanFemales live around 1 year and males often get eaten by the female post-mating

Did You Know

  • Scottish zoologist, Adam White documented the genus for the first time in his book ‘Description of New or Little Known Arachnida’.
  • In 1832, Charles Darwin took the first specimen of the genus, now known as Leucauge argyrobapta. He was the one who recommended the genus name.
  • The name of the genus originated from the Greek word ‘Leukos’, meaning white.

Leucauge Spider Image

In conclusion, Leucauge spiders, with their vibrant colors, intricate webs, and vital ecological roles, stand as a testament to the incredible diversity and adaptability of arachnids.