OwensLakeSpider - Metepeira

Moved

Moved from Southeast Desert. Just deleting the temporary California desert page.

… john and jane balaban, 17 February, 2013 - 8:27am

Moved

Moved from Metepeira.

… john and jane balaban, 20 January, 2013 - 3:13pm

Moved

Moved from Metepeira spinipes.

… Ken Schneider, 5 July, 2010 - 9:24am

ID?

How was this species ID confirmed? See discussion here.

… Ken Schneider, 4 July, 2010 - 5:04pm

Owens Lake spider ID

It is really quite impossible to determine whether the pictured spider is actually M. spinipes or not. Unfortunately, the photo does not provide enough clear detail of the abdominal pattern. I can tell you it is an orb weaver, one of many species that are possible members of the genera Araneus, Neoscona, Larinoides, Metepeira, and Eriophora.

I assume the designation of Metepeira spinipes was made based upon that species being known as a colonial orb web builder, which does occur in California. Unfortunately, microscopic examination is needed for a definitive ID.

That said, I have a long-standing research interest in colonial orb weavers, including this species, so I would love to get more info about the huge aggregation at Owens Lake.

Please see my website at www.biology.uc.edu for pictures of Metepeira spinipes, or contact me at George.Uetz@uc.edu

Thanks,

George Uetz

… uetzgw, 10 September, 2007 - 4:26pm

Moved

Moved from Spiders.

… Jeff Hollenbeck, 1 September, 2007 - 11:18pm

Infested?

I am just curious what qualifies their presence as an "infestation." Are they writing grants and commandeering the equipment, what?:-)

… Eric R. Eaton, 28 August, 2007 - 3:18pm

Infestation

10 meter high meteorological towers have been covered with webs of thousands of the spiders and air sampling inlets have been completely plugged with web and egg sacks. Millions of spiders are spread over a two square mile area of the dry lake bed. I would say commandeering our equipment.

… Windy Cox, 29 August, 2007 - 12:48am

Millions of spiders spread over a two sq. mile area ...

Windy, Do you have any more pix you could share? Thanks, Mike

… Mike Quinn, 9 September, 2007 - 8:06pm

Looks

like genus Metepeira to me, or maybe Neoscona.
An orb weaver at least.

… Jeff Hollenbeck, 27 August, 2007 - 11:28pm

See

here.
It might be the same species...

… Jeff Hollenbeck, 31 August, 2007 - 7:08pm