#cross orbweaver

[unluckyprime]

good ol’ cross orbweaver! ⭐️

[razehider]

another regular from last year's orbweaver season was this very pretty vivid red Araneus with an interesting incomplete cross that's more cream/yellowish than white. i'm still convinced this is just another A. diadematus for various reasons even though some random person on inaturalist claimed she was A. pallidus. it'd be nice since i've never seen the latter, but it's wishful thinking. these things have a lot of weird morphs

the last photo shows how yellow the markings were, she was a very peculiar lady with much less peculiar interests: conspicuously hanging out between two old carrot umbels all day

(October 5th, 2024)

[antiqueanimals]

Cross orbweaver (Araneus diadematus). The Entomologist's Text Book. Written and illustrated by John Obadiah Westwood. 1838.

Internet Archive

[bjekkergauken]

Blackberry spider

[steffiandcesar-photography]

[meadowbrown]

this is my buddy magnus 2, he lives on my window :)

[hinge]

Hinge presents an anthology of love stories almost never told. Read more on https://no-ordinary-love.co

[cyanogen-miasma]

underside of a particularly chonky Cross Orbweaver spider I saw today. I'm not great at spider ID, but this is also called the European Garden Spider, so as you could surmise from the name, I see them quite often

I believe I've taken the beauty of these spiders for granted, since they're so regular to me. I think I should stop envying the tropics for their range of colourful invertebrate characters and appreciate what I have a bit more. Look at that booty!

[eon-bug-collection]

rejected.... alas

[inatarachnids]

Cross Orbweaver (Araneus diadematus)

Observed by araneae_macro, CC BY-NC

[rebeccathenaturalist]

How to Identify Cross Orbweaver Spiders

Originally posted on my website at https://rebeccalexa.com/how-to-identify-cross-orbweaver-spiders/. Click here to learn more about the How to Identify article series.

Name: Cross orbweaver spider (Araneus diadematus), also known as cross spider, European garden spider, et. al.

Range and typical habitat(s): Native to much of Europe, sporadically found in temperate areas of Asia, introduced to North America, particularly the west coast and northeast United States.

Distinguishing physical characteristics (size, colors, overall shapes, detail shapes) and behaviors: Fall is just around the corner, and if you’re looking for more eco-friendly seasonal decorations, the cross orbweaver is the perfect fit! While these spiders have spent all summer chowing down on insects, by September they’ve gotten big enough to be quite visible on their large orb webs.

A mature female cross orbweaver spider.

Both sexes are a variable combination of orange, yellow, brown, and/or gray, and they all have white cross-shaped markings on the dorsal (upper) side of their rather large, oval-shaped abdomens. The legs are tan to orange with darker brown or gray stripes. Like many other web-weaving spiders, cross orbweavers tend to rest in the center of their web with their head facing down and their legs flexed rather than straight, though the fourth pair in the back may sometimes be extended somewhat. Their legs are covered in fine hairs with a fuzzy appearance. They are also known to perch on nearby leaves and twigs.

Like other members of the family Araneidae, the orb-weavers, these spiders have four pairs of eyes. Females are larger than males, reaching up to 1″ long in exceptional individuals, while males usually top out at 1/2″ or less. A close examination shows that males can also be distinguished by large pedipalps with swollen ends. These are little appendages nestled between the chelicerae (jaws) and the first pair of legs. Males use the pedipalps in mating displays, and to also pass sperm to the female. A courting male needs to be careful, as females will engage in cannibalism.

A male cross orbweaver (right) carefully approaches a female (left) with the intent to mate.

The eggs laid by females the previous fall hatch in spring, releasing several dozen (or more!) tiny yellow spiderlings into the world. While they make webs as soon as they find a good location, these young spiders often end up as prey for other animals themselves. Cross orbweavers generally live no more than a year, though females die shortly after laying their eggs, and males are often eaten by their mates.

The web is made of a series of overlapping threads of silk like the spokes in a wheel, with a spiraling orb starting at the center and working its way outward. A cross orbweaver’s web may be quite large, and the central orb may at times exceed two feet in diameter. They are not picky about where they set up shop, and are often found near homes and other buildings, where they are quite adept at catching flying insects that blunder into the web. If threatened, these spiders shake their web vigorously, and are not prone to bite unless handled roughly. They may dry bite in self-defense, choosing not to use venom. Their venom is not considered dangerous to humans.

Other organisms it could be confused with and how to tell the difference: There are several other Araneus species that look quite similar to the cross orbweaver. Of these, the most similar is the four-spot orbweaver (Araneus quadratus) has less variegated orange, green, or brown abdomen with four small white spots on it rather than a cross, though they have similarly striped legs. It is found only in Europe.

Araneus quadratus

The cat-faced spider (Araneus gemmoides), also known as the jewel orbweaver, is of similar size and color variation to the cross orbweaver. However, its abdomen has two pronounced points on top that look rather like a cat’s ears. Araneus gemma (not pictured) is also sometimes called the cat-faced spider or the gem-shaped spider, and it has a similarly shaped abdomen but tends to be paler in color. Both of these species are primarily found in the western half of temperate North America.

Araneus gemmoides. By Trucmuche04, CCA-SA-3.0

Anything else worth mentioning? Because the cross orbweaver is not native to North America, it competes with native spiders for food. This is especially concerning as insect populations have plummeted in recent decades due to pesticide use and habitat loss. It is often found in urban areas and other places with lots of human habitation, and is considered an invasive species in the Bay Area. They are considered harmless to humans.

Further Reading:

Cross Orbweaver Spider

Cross Orbweaver

Cross Orbweaver (Araneus diadematus)

Spiderspotter: Cross Orbweaver

Did you enjoy this post? Consider taking one of my online foraging and natural history classes or hiring me for a guided nature tour, checking out my other articles, or picking up a paperback or ebook I’ve written! You can even buy me a coffee here!

[razehider]

orbweaver season is always exciting, not only for the obvious reason i.e. big spider time but because there's so much variation between individuals that each one is a nice surprise. the first one i found was this very pretty pale Araneus diadematus with a delicious biscuit for an abdomen. i think she was still a subadult here, and did end up getting darker with age

she had a pretty good hideout as seen here but still spent the next couple of months out in the same conspicuous spot in classic orbweaver fashion. i visited her often and kept up with her accomplishments such as motherhood, losing a leg and catching a yellowjacket. it was a good life

(September 18th, 2024)

[caelanv0]

Got a few pictures of Araneus diadematus during my trip to Washington state

[ancientstarrydynamo]

Spider on my Porch

[morbidsmenagerie]

Pics of my pins. This is an usual cross orbweaver that doesn't have the intersecting white marks that form the "cross", just the mark down the length of the abdomen.

[cielleduciel]

she's been hard at work all day cleaning her web cuz the wind keeps blowing trash into it

[hinge]

Hinge presents an anthology of love stories almost never told. Read more on https://no-ordinary-love.co

[colorsoutofearth]

Newly hatched Garden Spiderlings (Araneus diadematus)

Photo by Ingo Arndt