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
Upcoming Events

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

National Moth Week was July 23-31, 2022! See moth submissions.

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29

Photos of insects and people from the 2015 gathering in Wisconsin, July 10-12


Previous events


TaxonomyBrowse
Info
ImagesLinksBooksData

Species Larinioides sclopetarius - Gray Cross Spider

spiny-legged spider - Larinioides sclopetarius - male light brown, black spider, large pedipalps, found on ceiling - Larinioides sclopetarius Gray Cross Spider - Larinioides sclopetarius - female Larinioides sclopetarius - female Gray Cross Spider - Larinioides sclopetarius - female Huge Spider - Larinioides sclopetarius Grey Cross Spider - Larinioides sclopetarius Spider sp. (???) - Larinioides sclopetarius - female
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 Larinioides (Furrow spiders)
Species sclopetarius (Gray Cross Spider)
Other Common Names
Bridge Orbweaver
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Araneus sericatus Clerck, 1757
Larinoides sclopetarius Roberts, 1985
Larinioides sericatus Šestáková, Marusik & Omelko, 2014 (revalidated, rejected (1)).
Identification
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
Range
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)
Life Cycle
Young juvenile, adult female, adult male:


Egg sac:
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.
Levi, H. W. 1974b. "The orb-weaver genera Araniella and Nuctenea (Araneae: Araneidae)." Bull. Mus. comp. Zool. Harv. 146: 291-316. [online here]
Internet References
bugeric.blogspot.com - Great article by Bug Eric (Eric Eaton) with images.
Works Cited
1.World Spider Catalog
2.The Orb-weaving Spiders of Canada and Alaska - The Insects and Arachnids of Canada Part 23
Dondale, C.D., J.H. Redner, P, Paquin and H.W. Levi. 2003. NRC Research Press.