spider with long web - Araneus - BugGuide.Net

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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Chelicerates (Chelicerata) » Arachnids (Arachnida) » Spiders (Araneae) » True Spiders (Araneomorphae) » Entelegynae » Orb Weavers (Araneidae) » Araneus

Photo#204364

Copyright © 2008 kayfair

spider with long web - Araneus

Carlisle, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA
July 20, 2008
Size: abdomen 0.5 inch diameter

Found this spider in a narrow web about 15 feet long stretching from a pine branch over a field down to grasses in the field. Abdomen appears spherical in photo but when the spider is viewed head on, it has two distinct humps one on each side of the abdomen. Grid in photo is 4 squares to the inch. The closest I can get with ID is perhaps an Araneus of some kind. Any help?

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Contributed by kayfair on 21 July, 2008 - 3:44pm
Last updated 27 July, 2008 - 7:28pm

Moved

Moved from Spiders.

… john and jane balaban, 27 July, 2008 - 7:28pm

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Araneus bicentenarius

I'm not 100% sure, but it looks like a browner color variation of the Giant Lichen Orbweaver (Araneus bicentenarius). Here's a couple images from the Guide for comparison:

… Brett Tyler, 22 July, 2008 - 9:30am

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are they known for color variation?

Hi Brett, thanks very much! It certainly has the same form as A. bicentenarius and the two pairs of front legs have the same colors. I can see some faint zigzag markings on the abdomen that are consistent with the stronger markings on the 'standard' green version. This one can tuck its legs in very tight so the whole spider looks like a ball which also seems consistent with other pics for the species. Do you know if this species is known for its color variation? Rgds, Kay

… kayfair, 22 July, 2008 - 5:12pm

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RE: are they known for color variation?

Well, the only reason I wasn't entirely certain on this was because I've never seen very much color variation in this species. All the ones I've ever encountered have been green...but most spiders in general are prone to at least some degree of color variation, so I figured that was just the case with yours. But I would have to say that a brown A. bicentenarius is an uncommon sight at best. Great find, Kay!

… Brett Tyler, 23 July, 2008 - 9:01am

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thanks

Hi Brett, thanks for the follow-up. I appreciate it. I'll set this spider free and now I want to find a green one. Rgds, Kay

… kayfair, 24 July, 2008 - 10:23am

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