HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp

Clickable Guide

Calendar

Upcoming Events

See Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

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

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

Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Chelicerates (Chelicerata) » Arachnids (Arachnida) » Spiders (Araneae) » True Spiders (Araneomorphae) » Entelegynae » Orb Weavers (Araneidae) » Spotted Orbweavers (Neoscona) » Neoscona crucifera

Species Neoscona crucifera

Classification · Other Common Names · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Season · Remarks · See Also · Internet References · Works Cited

Spotted Orbweaver (Neoscona) - Neoscona crucifera - female

Araneidae (Orb Weaver), dorsal - Neoscona crucifera

Orbweaver sp.; Neoscona? - Neoscona crucifera

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 Neoscona (Spotted Orbweavers)

Species crucifera (Neoscona crucifera)

Other Common Names

Barn Spider (however, Araneus cavaticus uses the same common name)

Hentz Orbweaver (not "Hentz's Orbweaver" - common names cannot be formed using the possessive form of proper names; see p. 6 here)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

See the World Spider Catalog.

Explanation of Names

Neoscona crucifera Lucas 1838

Size

Female 9-20 mm, Male 5-15 mm

Identification

Can usually be distinguished from Neoscona domiciliorum by rusty red color and the lack of pattern on the abdomen (1).

Female (the first is a voucher specimen)

Male

Egg Sac

Range

Eastern N. Amer. to CA / Mex. (1)

Season

mostly: Jun-Nov (BG data)

Remarks

N. crucifera & N. domiciliorum build their webs at dusk and then take the webs back down around dawn by eating it. (Kaston 1976)

See Also

Neoscona domiciliorum - Spotted Orbweaver

Eriophora ravilla

Internet References

N. crucifera vs. domiciliorum - UFL

Works Cited

1.	Spiders of the Eastern US, A Photographic Guide W. Mike Howell and Ronald L. Jenkins. 2004. pearson education.

Contributed by tom murray on 13 August, 2005 - 9:55pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Lynette Elliott, Christopher C Wirth, Jeff Hollenbeck, cheins, Chuck Entz, Mike Quinn, Denis Doucet, v belov, Mandy Howe, Laura P., Fyn Kynd
Last updated 4 February, 2023 - 7:09pm

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