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Photo#541229
Orb spider--possibly Aculepeira? - Aculepeira packardi

Orb spider--possibly Aculepeira? - Aculepeira packardi
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, San Diego County, California, USA
February 27, 2010
This spider was on Brittlebush in Coachwhip Canyon, another low hot desert area. It also looks somewhat like #349635, but not quite so similar. Any help is much appreciated.

Moved
Moved from ID Request. Any chance you can get a ventral view as well?

Aculepeira
Looks right for both of them. Nice finds. The look-alike spider in your area is Metepeira. You should probably look at both to see what you think. & Wait.. I just remembered one more. Neoscona oaxacensis also can look a lot like this.

 
Aculepeira
These spiders are really difficult to identify. For one thing, they are quite variable. I see lots of differences in the patterns of these two, yet both seem to fit Aculepeira better than the more common Metepeira. These seem to have the elongate more comma-like white markings that are mentioned in regard to Aculepeira. The Metepeira seem to have more horizontal white markings. The Neoscona has strong black dots that I don't see on these two.

Thank you so much for all your help in identifying these splendid spiders!

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