Range
arabesca - Walckenaer, 1842 - AB, AL, AR, AZ, BC, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, LA, MA, MB, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NB, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NM, NS, NY, OH, OK, ON, OR, PA, PQ, RI, SC, SD, SK, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY
crucifera - Lucas, 1838 - AL, AR, AZ, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV
domiciliorum - Hentz, 1847 - AL, CT, FL, GA, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, TN, TX, VA, WV
oaxacensis - Keyserling, 1864 - AZ, CA, IN, KS, NM, NV, RI, TX, UT, WA
pratensis - Hentz, 1847 - CT, FL, IL, KS, LA, MA, MI, MN, NC, ND, NY, ON, WI
utahana - Chamberlin, 1919 - CO, KS, LA, NM, OK, TX, UT
Remarks
Some species (usually collectively referred to as "barn spiders", i.e.
Neoscona crucifera) are nearly impossible to distinguish from Araneus and can only be separated by examination of carapace to view the carapace groove (fovea).
Neoscona have a longitudinal groove on the carapace (parallel with the long axis of the body), whereas
Araneus have angular (transverse) grooves. However, an apparent problem is that in
Araneus the groove may appear as little more than a dimple, making it tough to tell. See
this diagram for differences in the carapace grooves.
