Home / Orb Weavers / Tropical Orb-weaver (Eriophora ravilla)

Tropical Orb-weaver (Eriophora ravilla)

Tropical orb-weaver of the Eriophora genus and Araneidae family has a wide range, indigenous to most parts of the United States.

Scientific Classification

Tropical Orb Weaver

 

Quick Information

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).

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, has 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 Spider

Is the Tropical Web Spider Venomous

They will not bite unless agitated, though their venom remains harmless to humans.

Quick Facts

Distribution Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Gulf Coast regions of the United States; Mexico; parts of Central America; Venezuela and Colombia in northern parts of South America 
Habitat Woodlands, orchards, and citrus fruits grooves
Diet Small insects
Lifespan 12 months

Image Source: Upload.wikimedia.org, Bugguide.net

Tropical orb-weaver of the Eriophora genus and Araneidae family has a wide range, indigenous to most parts of the United States.

Tropical Orb Weaver

 

Quick Information

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).

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, has 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 Spider

Is the Tropical Web Spider Venomous

They will not bite unless agitated, though their venom remains harmless to humans.

Quick Facts

Distribution Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Gulf Coast regions of the United States; Mexico; parts of Central America; Venezuela and Colombia in northern parts of South America 
Habitat Woodlands, orchards, and citrus fruits grooves
Diet Small insects
Lifespan 12 months

Image Source: Upload.wikimedia.org, Bugguide.net

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