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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Chelicerates (Chelicerata) » Arachnids (Arachnida) » Spiders (Araneae) » True Spiders (Araneomorphae) » Entelegynae » Orb Weavers (Araneidae)
Photo#1245540
Antrodiaetidae sp?
Copyright © 2016 chris in burgundy

Antrodiaetidae sp?
Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, California, USA
August 13, 2015
I wondered if this was a female (large abdomen) folding trapdoor spider of the Antrodiaetidae species. Found outside on a garden wall.
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Contributed by chris in burgundy on 25 June, 2016 - 4:39pm
Last updated 26 June, 2016 - 12:09pm

Yes our gut response would also
have been that this is Neoscona crucifera, but we wouldn't call that a firm ID. After looking at thousands of images of Orb Weavers over the years, that just seems most likely.
… john and jane balaban, 10 July, 2016 - 8:41am login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Lynette Elliott, 26 June, 2016 - 12:09pm login or register to post comments

We would have suggested
an Orb Weaver for this one, though we couldn't say which one :(
… john and jane balaban, 25 June, 2016 - 10:08pm login or register to post comments

 
Antrodiaetidae sp?
Thank you, John & Jane. Will now have a look at the Orb Weavers and see if I can come up with an ID, at least to species. Thanks again.
… chris in burgundy, 26 June, 2016 - 3:18pm login or register to post comments

 
Antrodiaetidae sp?
I have now had a chance to look at possible Orb Weavers matching my specimen, particularly Araneus and Neoscona sp.

The best ID I can come up with is Araneus thaddeus because I believe that (a) the large size, (b) the colour and pattern of the legs and (c) the colour of the cephalothorax and fovea are consistent with that species: bugguide.net/node/view/232102/bgimage

The colour and pattern of the abdomen, however, remain cause for concern but I am encouraged by this example (scroll down to 7th picture):
www.marylandbiodiversity.com/viewSpecies.php?species=6512.

Even if A. thaddeus or any other species cannot be confirmed, could I still tag this one as Araneus sp?

Any further advice would be welcomed! Thank you.
… chris in burgundy, 10 July, 2016 - 8:00am login or register to post comments

 
Not A. thaddeus.
The pattern doesn't match that species. My best guess would be a light N. crucifera, but I'm not sure on that. A full dorsal shot would have been better since this angle doesn't show that there are no "shoulders" on the spider... though it appears there are not. "Shoulders" generally means Araneus genus.
… Lynette Elliott, 10 July, 2016 - 8:37am login or register to post comments

 
Thank you
Thank you, Lynette & John & Jane for your comments and advice.

Sorry that my photo is not the best but I've had another look at N. crucifera and can fully understand your reluctance to commit yourselves to a firm ID. I've noticed that this species has darker red femora which my specimen appears to have and so that may be a pointer. However, it's not at all conclusive and so I think I'll just tag the picture as 'possible N. crucifera'.

Thank you again for all your help.
… chris in burgundy, 10 July, 2016 - 10:29am login or register to post comments

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