Large orb weaver - Neoscona domiciliorum

We thought about domiciliorum

and almost suggested that, but chickened out and went with the common crucifera. domiciliorum has more contrast, light lights and dark darks and the cross marking on the dorsal abdomen is usually quite narrow and straight. They are a tough pair, best separated by reproductive parts. Laura can tell you more about how she made the final decision.

… john and jane balaban, 23 September, 2014 - 8:11pm

Moved

Moved from Orb Weavers.

… Laura P., 23 September, 2014 - 7:12pm

Difference of opinion

I see this was moved to N. domiciliorum instead of N. crucifera. What are the differences between the two?

… Peter Edelman, 23 September, 2014 - 7:53pm

Gosh, I didn't even see ...

the Balabans comment and for some reason thought I pulled this from ID request. I must've been under the most recent tab instead. Anyway, we've been separating them by the amount of white across the abdomen:

N. crucifera has pretty much the same design on the abdomen but the lighter portions don't show as bright white:

The more obvious N. domiciliorums have bright red femurs and a silvery carapace:

If she's somewhere on your property where you can keep an eye on her, check to see if her appearance changes at all over the next few weeks. If she starts to look duller we'll move her over to N. crucifera.

… Laura P., 23 September, 2014 - 8:10pm

At my summer home

I'm not there now and she'll probably be gone by the time I go there again to close the house for the winter. So this is all I've got. I've definitely never seen domiciliorum that vividly marked before.

… Aaron Hunt, 23 September, 2014 - 8:12pm

Looks to be

Neoscona crucifera

… john and jane balaban, 23 September, 2014 - 7:01pm