Home / Orb Weavers / Spotted Orb Weaver (Neoscona crucifera)

Spotted Orb Weaver (Neoscona crucifera)

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.

Scientific Classification

Spotted Orb Weaver

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

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

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.

Spiderlings

Right after the hatching, the young ones are on their own. The juvenile females start weaving, while the males look for food.

The Web

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

Are Spotted Orb Weavers Poisonous

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.

Quick Facts

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

Did You Know

  • Only female spotted orb weavers make the web.
  • The species share the common name barn spider with another species Araneus cavaticus.
  • Their species name ‘crucifera‘ means ‘cross bearer’ in Latin. It is because they have a cross pattern on their abdomen.

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.

Spotted Orb Weaver

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

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

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.

Spiderlings

Right after the hatching, the young ones are on their own. The juvenile females start weaving, while the males look for food.

The Web

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

Are Spotted Orb Weavers Poisonous

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.

Quick Facts

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

Did You Know

  • Only female spotted orb weavers make the web.
  • The species share the common name barn spider with another species Araneus cavaticus.
  • Their species name ‘crucifera‘ means ‘cross bearer’ in Latin. It is because they have a cross pattern on their abdomen.

Image Credits: Bandoteam.files.wordpress.com, Environment.arlingtonva.us, Thepeak.us, D.facdn.net, Extension.msstate.edu