Species Larinioides sclopetarius - Gray Cross Spider

Bridge Orbweaver

See the World Spider Catalog.

Araneus sericatus Clerck, 1757

Larinoides sclopetarius Roberts, 1985

Larinioides sericatus Šestáková, Marusik & Omelko, 2014 (revalidated, rejected (1)).

The Genus Larinioides page describes how to differentiate the species found in this genus. The carapace of this species is typically grayish.

Images that match best to pattern drawings in The Insects and Arachnids of Canada Part 23:

Eye Arrangement:

Possible stages of development (these were taken from one location and likely different stages of the same species):

Palp

Epigynum

British Columbia to Newfoundland, south to Utah, Oklahoma, and North Carolina.(2) However, it is noted by Levi (1974b) that this species may be introduced because of its close association with buildings and because its range is very similar to the introduced Araneus diadematus (which is also a holarctic species now)... so this range may expand over time (see note below).

**We've received recent voucher specimens from Long Beach, California (thanks to Dr. Vincent) that may indicate the distribution of this species has greatly expanded since the range listed in Dondale et al. 2003 (see CA voucher male & female).

BC, CA, CT, ID, IL, IN, KY, MA, ME, MI, NB, NF, NH, NS, NY, OK, OH, ON, PA, PQ, RI, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV (may not be complete)

Young juvenile, adult female, adult male:

Egg sac:

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.

Levi, H. W. 1974b. "The orb-weaver genera Araniella and Nuctenea (Araneae: Araneidae)." Bull. Mus. comp. Zool. Harv. 146: 291-316. [online here]