Commonly found throughout Florida, Maine, Arizona, and Minnesota, the spotted orb weaver is a small spider belonging to the family of Araneidae or orb weavers. This is a nocturnal species, but during fall the female spiders become diurnal.
Size: Females are 0.37-0.74 inches (9.3-19 mm) and males are slightly smaller.
Color: Orange or rust body with brownish-green or black markings. The carapace is mostly grey along with brown patterns. Green legs have brown rings on them.
Other Characteristic Features: The abdomen has a triangular shape like other orb weavers.
Hentz’s Orb Weaver
Eggs have a spherical shape, each sizing 0.19-0.47 in (5-12 mm) released in groups of about 1,000 at a time in a sac prepared from yellow and fluffy threads. They hatch in spring.
Right after the hatching, the young ones are on their own. The juvenile females start weaving, while the males look for food.
A new web is made each night on a solid surface like wall, tree, or fence, a few feet off the base. The spider eats the web the next morning. Their webs are oval in shape, with a spiral weaving pattern characteristic to orb-weavers.
Spotted Orb Weaver Web
These spiders are not venomous, and being shy in nature, they are most unlikely to even bite. They might do it as the last resort when threatened. The bite might sting, but does not do any long-term damage.
| Also Known as | Hentz’s orb weaver, the barn spider |
| Distribution | U.S.A and Mexico |
| Habitat | Grassy areas, gardens, and buildings |
| Diet | Moths and flies |
| Lifespan | 12 months |
| Predators | Larger insects and birds |
| IUCN Conservation Status | Not listed |
Spotted Orb Weaver Spider
Image Credits: Bandoteam.files.wordpress.com, Environment.arlingtonva.us, Thepeak.us, D.facdn.net, Extension.msstate.edu
Commonly found throughout Florida, Maine, Arizona, and Minnesota, the spotted orb weaver is a small spider belonging to the family of Araneidae or orb weavers. This is a nocturnal species, but during fall the female spiders become diurnal.
Size: Females are 0.37-0.74 inches (9.3-19 mm) and males are slightly smaller.
Color: Orange or rust body with brownish-green or black markings. The carapace is mostly grey along with brown patterns. Green legs have brown rings on them.
Other Characteristic Features: The abdomen has a triangular shape like other orb weavers.
Hentz’s Orb Weaver
Eggs have a spherical shape, each sizing 0.19-0.47 in (5-12 mm) released in groups of about 1,000 at a time in a sac prepared from yellow and fluffy threads. They hatch in spring.
Right after the hatching, the young ones are on their own. The juvenile females start weaving, while the males look for food.
A new web is made each night on a solid surface like wall, tree, or fence, a few feet off the base. The spider eats the web the next morning. Their webs are oval in shape, with a spiral weaving pattern characteristic to orb-weavers.
Spotted Orb Weaver Web
These spiders are not venomous, and being shy in nature, they are most unlikely to even bite. They might do it as the last resort when threatened. The bite might sting, but does not do any long-term damage.
| Also Known as | Hentz’s orb weaver, the barn spider |
| Distribution | U.S.A and Mexico |
| Habitat | Grassy areas, gardens, and buildings |
| Diet | Moths and flies |
| Lifespan | 12 months |
| Predators | Larger insects and birds |
| IUCN Conservation Status | Not listed |
Spotted Orb Weaver Spider
Image Credits: Bandoteam.files.wordpress.com, Environment.arlingtonva.us, Thepeak.us, D.facdn.net, Extension.msstate.edu
James Lambrou on December 29, 2018.
Dr. Watuwa James
© 2023 (Spider Identifications). All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
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