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Tropical Orb-weaver (Eriophora ravilla)

The tropical orb-weaver is a fascinating spider from the Eriophora genus, part of the Araneidae family. You’ll often find it in many areas of the United States. Ready to explore some cool facts about this spider? This post has all the details for you!

Scientific Classification

Tropical Orb Weaver

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

  • Size: The females are 0.47 – 0.94 inches (12 – 24 mm) in size, while the males are smaller, 0.35 – 0.51 inches (9 – 13 mm).

Tropical Orb Weaver Size

  • Color: The females have reddish-brown legs and cephalothorax. The dorsal part of their abdomen may be brown or grey. At the same time, the ventral portion possesses black triangular markings pointing backward. The males have a grey abdomen with banded legs.
  • Other Characteristic Features: The abdomen of the tropical orb-weaver males is smaller than their female counterparts. Some of them, particularly those living in Florida, have two humps on their backs, alongside white spots on their abdomen’s dorsal part.

Eggs

The small, oval eggs remain safely enclosed in a sac.

Spiderlings

The juveniles in the Florida region also have white spots on their abdomen like adults. They disperse from their kin after a few molts.

The Web

They have a spiral-shaped web, 19 ft (6 m) built after dark and removed before dawn.

Tropical Orb Weaver Web

Are Tropical Orb-weaver Spiders Venomous?

Yes, tropical orb-weaver spiders are venomous. However, their venom is mostly harmless to humans and usually just causes minor irritation.

Can Tropical Orb-weaver Spiders Bite?

Yes, tropical orb-weaver spiders can bite, but it’s rare. If they do, it might feel like a bee sting, but reactions vary among individuals.

Tropical Orb Weaver Spider

Ecological Importance and Behavior of Tropical Orb Weaver Spider

Tropical orb-weaver spiders contribute significantly to controlling insect populations. Their nocturnal web-building habits not only facilitate the capture of prey such as small insects but also avoid daytime predators and reduce damage to their webs from birds and larger animals.

Natural Predator: The natural predators of tropical orb-weavers include birds, lizards, and small mammals, which keep their populations in check.

Prey-Predator Dynamics: These spiders exemplify the prey-predator relationship by managing insect populations while simultaneously serving as a food source for their predators, maintaining ecological balance.

Relationship with Humans: Tropical orb-weavers rarely interact with humans, and when they do, it is usually without incident. Bites are uncommon and typically not serious, likened to a bee sting in terms of discomfort.

Tropical Orb Weaver Image

Quick Facts

DistributionFlorida, Texas, Louisiana, Gulf Coast regions of the United States; Mexico; parts of Central America; Venezuela and Colombia in northern parts of South America 
HabitatWoodlands, orchards, and citrus fruit groves
DietSmall insects
Lifespan12 months

Did You Know

  • At night, these spiders make big webs. They sit in the web during the night. During the day, they hide in a leaf rolled up like a tube, close to their web.

Eriophora Ravilla

In summary, the tropical orb-weaver spider is an essential component of its ecosystem, serving as a natural pest controller and a participant in the food web.

The tropical orb-weaver is a fascinating spider from the Eriophora genus, part of the Araneidae family. You’ll often find it in many areas of the United States. Ready to explore some cool facts about this spider? This post has all the details for you!

Tropical Orb Weaver

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

  • Size: The females are 0.47 – 0.94 inches (12 – 24 mm) in size, while the males are smaller, 0.35 – 0.51 inches (9 – 13 mm).

Tropical Orb Weaver Size

  • Color: The females have reddish-brown legs and cephalothorax. The dorsal part of their abdomen may be brown or grey. At the same time, the ventral portion possesses black triangular markings pointing backward. The males have a grey abdomen with banded legs.
  • Other Characteristic Features: The abdomen of the tropical orb-weaver males is smaller than their female counterparts. Some of them, particularly those living in Florida, have two humps on their backs, alongside white spots on their abdomen’s dorsal part.

Eggs

The small, oval eggs remain safely enclosed in a sac.

Spiderlings

The juveniles in the Florida region also have white spots on their abdomen like adults. They disperse from their kin after a few molts.

The Web

They have a spiral-shaped web, 19 ft (6 m) built after dark and removed before dawn.

Tropical Orb Weaver Web

Are Tropical Orb-weaver Spiders Venomous?

Yes, tropical orb-weaver spiders are venomous. However, their venom is mostly harmless to humans and usually just causes minor irritation.

Can Tropical Orb-weaver Spiders Bite?

Yes, tropical orb-weaver spiders can bite, but it’s rare. If they do, it might feel like a bee sting, but reactions vary among individuals.

Tropical Orb Weaver Spider

Ecological Importance and Behavior of Tropical Orb Weaver Spider

Tropical orb-weaver spiders contribute significantly to controlling insect populations. Their nocturnal web-building habits not only facilitate the capture of prey such as small insects but also avoid daytime predators and reduce damage to their webs from birds and larger animals.

Natural Predator: The natural predators of tropical orb-weavers include birds, lizards, and small mammals, which keep their populations in check.

Prey-Predator Dynamics: These spiders exemplify the prey-predator relationship by managing insect populations while simultaneously serving as a food source for their predators, maintaining ecological balance.

Relationship with Humans: Tropical orb-weavers rarely interact with humans, and when they do, it is usually without incident. Bites are uncommon and typically not serious, likened to a bee sting in terms of discomfort.

Tropical Orb Weaver Image

Quick Facts

DistributionFlorida, Texas, Louisiana, Gulf Coast regions of the United States; Mexico; parts of Central America; Venezuela and Colombia in northern parts of South America 
HabitatWoodlands, orchards, and citrus fruit groves
DietSmall insects
Lifespan12 months

Did You Know

  • At night, these spiders make big webs. They sit in the web during the night. During the day, they hide in a leaf rolled up like a tube, close to their web.

Eriophora Ravilla

In summary, the tropical orb-weaver spider is an essential component of its ecosystem, serving as a natural pest controller and a participant in the food web.