Orchard Orb Weaver - Leucauge venusta

Leucauge venusta – (Orchard Orb Weaver)

     If there is a spider that could be labelled as pretty, the Orchard Orb Weaver would be it. Its abdomen is slightly elongated and can have a mixture of several colors. Most commonly the abdomen looks like it is white or silver with a few thin black stripes running down its length. Among the stripes will be different markings of yellow, green, bright orange and/or pink.

     The Cephalothorax will usually be a greenish yellow with brown on the sides. The legs are a bright green that often become black further away from the body.

Bite Info

 For bite and other information, please return to Orb Weavers

SIZE
Female Body Length = 3/16” - 5/16" (5 - 8mm)
Female leg span = 3/4" - 1 1/8” (19 - 29mm)
Male Body Length = 1/8" - 3/16” (3 - 5mm)

Photographed by: Jennifer Wolf - Berrien Springs, Michigan



Spotted Orb Weaver - Neoscona crucifera

Neoscona crucifera – (Spotted Orb Weaver)

I have yet to figure out just why they call this the Spotted Orb Weaver. So far, any that I have seen, do not have any spots. One way to recognize this spider is by the extra thick spiky hairs on its abdomen, giving it an almost porcupinish look to them.

Often, this species is almost identical to the Neoscona domicilorum. It can usually be distinguished by a lack of a pattern on the abdomen and a rusty red coloring.

Due to the heavy coating of thick hairs on the abdomen, the abdomen often seems to lack a pattern or the pattern may be faint. The legs will also have spiky hairs that are easy to notice.

Bite Info

 For bite and other information, please return to Orb Weavers

SIZE:
Body Length = 3/8" to 3/4"” (10 to 20mm)
Leg span = 3/4" to 1-3/8" (19 to 35mm)

Photographed by: Randy Richardson - Flat Rock, Michigan