Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2009 9:56 pm Post subject: 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!) _________________ "Tarantulas are friends, not food" (but I bet they taste pretty good with butter and lemon!)
Looks more like this:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/69652/bgpage
Neoscona crucifera _________________ "Tarantulas are friends, not food" (but I bet they taste pretty good with butter and lemon!)
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. _________________
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. _________________ My karma ran over your dogma...
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.
So what kind do you think it is? Please post *your* photos -- mine are crummy! :-> _________________ "Tarantulas are friends, not food" (but I bet they taste pretty good with butter and lemon!)
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.
(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. _________________ "Tarantulas are friends, not food" (but I bet they taste pretty good with butter and lemon!)
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