Species Micrathena gracilis - Spined Micrathena

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification

Micrathea gracilis - Micrathena gracilis - female

Spined Micrathena, female - Micrathena gracilis

Araneidae, Spined Micrathena - Micrathena gracilis

Spiny Orb Weaver Spider? - Micrathena gracilis

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 Micrathena

Species gracilis (Spined Micrathena)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

See the World Spider Catalog.

Explanation of Names

Latin: "slender, slight"

Size

Females 8 - 10 mm, males average 4.5 mm.

One specimen (a female) from Durham, North Carolina, 30 July, measured 11 mm from head to tip of abdomen.

Identification

Females are mostly white or pale yellow, mottled with black or brown. They have ten spines on the chunky abdomen. Size 8 - 10 mm.

Males are flat with an elongated yellowish or white abdomen. They lack all but one or two abdominal spines and are smaller than females, averaging 4.5mm in size.

Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 1:20pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Hannah Nendick-Mason, Lynette Elliott, cheins, Chuck Entz
Last updated 4 February, 2023 - 8:20am

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2023 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Printer Friendly Version