Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Species Micrathena gracilis - Spined Micrathena

Spined Micrathena - Micrathena gracilis - female Spider with spikes - Micrathena gracilis 5 mm male  - Micrathena gracilis - male Micrathena Spider - Micrathena gracilis - female Pointy Butt Spider - Micrathena gracilis - female Spider - Micrathena gracilis Micrathena gracilis ? - Micrathena gracilis - female Micrathena gracilis - male
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
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.