| Archive for scabies.myfreeforum.org Southern California Arachnid, Bug, Invertebrate, Entomological Society |
| Celeste |
What is this spider?She was dangling from the eaves outside my back door. She is fairly good sized (about 1" total leg span). Very active, so it was hard to get a decent picture. Plain brown back, but pretty markings on her ventral side:
(the green spots are just a trick of the camera lighting and the glass container she was in. It was really hard to get a clear shot of her underside -- she is so active!) |
||||
| noexcuse4you |
That looks like a spider. | ||||
| ftorres |
HEllo Celeste,
it is an Orb weaver Araneus sp possible A diadematus. regards francisco |
||||
| Celeste |
There's always at least one smart a$$ in the crowd...
Yes, I figured it was an Orb Weaver of some kind. Any guess as to Genus? (Looks like possibly Neoscona or Zygiella from what I've been able to find online, but I don't know their distributions). Looks like maybe closely related to these: http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=1310054 http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=1310055 |
||||
| Celeste |
Looks more like this:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/69652/bgpage Neoscona crucifera |
||||
| ftorres |
Hello Celeste,
Neosconia does happens in NorthAmerica but Zygiella, might just be from Israel or middle east, except for Zygiella x-notata that is mainly found in boats around the world. regards francisco Abstract from this link http://www.sdnhm.org/fieldguide/inverts/neos-cru.html Neoscona crucifera ARANEIDAE Description Females of this species generally measure 8.5-19.7mm in total length while males are generally 4.5-15mm long. Males and females have the same color pattern. The carapace is yellowish with white hairs, and the abdomen is yellow to orange with a central light band; it may have marks that look like paired, dark commas along the light band. The abdomen does not have paired anterior dorsal humps. Range and Habitat Neoscona crucifera occurs in the United States from the Eastern seaboard to the South and west to Southern California. In San Diego County it is found in coastal and inland chaparral and oak habitats. It generally inhabits dryer habitats and open woods. It was introduced to California. Natural History The large orb webs are built in late summer and early fall. Near Ramona, webs made by these spiders have been observed to reach from power lines to the ground. Related and Similar Species A similar species is Neoscona arabesca which is smaller and has more pronounced black commas and other marks on the abdomen. An inspection of the genitalia is necessary to confirm identification. |
||||
| a1_collection |
Celeste, It looks like you are finding the same things at the same time I find in my yard. I was just about to post a picture of that Orb Weaver. | ||||
| balam |
wonder what the distribution in SC is... I'll have to take a look around the yard as well 
|
||||
| Celeste |
So what kind do you think it is? Please post *your* photos -- mine are crummy! :-> |
||||
| Krawll |
Hi celeste
I'm not a Pro with orb weavers but i would go with the first ID that Ftorres came up with : Araneus diadematus. Most of the A. diadematus i've seen had much clearer markings but they do tend to varry alot in colors so i'm still leaning towards that species even though it COULD be something else. I'm more than 85 % sure about the Genus though. The spider's body shape realy fits for that Genus. |
||||
| a1_collection |
This is what I find in my yard. This fellow I caught around my lights. There is another one around 1 in long making huge web every night up in the trees. 
|
||||
| Celeste |
Beautiful picture and beautiful spider!
(One of these days when I have money again I'll get a decent camera with a macro setting...) That one is much more colorful than the one I found. |
||||
| Habibi18 |
Saw a couple similar to these in the park.
Beautiful! Especially the last one. And I don't even have a camera so I need one! 
|
||||