Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Clickable Guide
Moths Butterflies Flies Caterpillars Flies Dragonflies Flies Mantids Cockroaches Bees and Wasps Walkingsticks Earwigs Ants Termites Hoppers and Kin Hoppers and Kin Beetles True Bugs Fleas Grasshoppers and Kin Ticks Spiders Scorpions Centipedes Millipedes

Calendar

TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData

Species Araneus diadematus - Cross Spider

Spider one ID - Araneus diadematus Immature Yellowish Spider with Black Triangle - Araneus diadematus A. diadematus - Araneus diadematus - male tiny spiders - Araneus diadematus Cross Orbweaver - Araneus diadematus - Araneus diadematus Possible Furrow Spider (Larinoides)? - Araneus diadematus Cross Orb Weaver - Araneus diadematus - female Cross Spider - Araneus diadematus
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Chelicerata (Chelicerates)
Class Arachnida (Arachnids)
Order Araneae (Spiders)
Infraorder Araneomorphae (True Spiders)
No Taxon (Entelegynae)
Family Araneidae (Orb Weavers)
Genus Araneus
Species diadematus (Cross Spider)
Other Common Names
Cross Spider, Cross Orbweaver, European Garden Spider
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Size
Body length adult female: 6-20mm.
Body length adult male: 6-13mm.
Identification
The dorsal, white cross on the abdomen can typically be diagnostic:


There is also an atypical variation that does not have the cross. This might be confused with A. gemma. See atypical diadematus here:


Ventral Pattern


Female epigynum/scape:


Web
Range
This non-native species is slowly spreading outward from the Pacific Northwest (to California and Utah per BG data) and from the northeast westward (Wisconsin and Arkansas per BG data). It is also known from eastern Minnesota at this time (10 Jan 2023-ChH)
Habitat
Common in gardens, though it is more a species of scrubby heathland or amongst gorse.
Life Cycle
Shriveled Female and egg sac:


Mature couple:


Mature male, immature female:

Males reach sexual maturity before females do, and will often pair off with an immature female in order to claim her.

Juveniles:


Spiderlings


Egg Sac
Remarks
Introduced to North America from Western and Northern Europe.
Print References
Dondale, C. D., J. H. Redner, P. Paquin & H. W. Levi. 2003. The insects and arachnids of Canada. Part 23. The orb-weaving spiders of Canada and Alaska (Araneae: Uloboridae, Tetragnathidae, Araneidae, Theridiosomatidae). NRC Research Press, Ottawa, 371 pp.