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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Chelicerates (Chelicerata) » Arachnids (Arachnida) » Spiders (Araneae) » True Spiders (Araneomorphae) » Entelegynae » Orb Weavers (Araneidae) » Araneus » Araneus nordmanni
Photo#986064
Orb Weaver? - Araneus nordmanni
Copyright © 2014 DaveT

Orb Weaver? - Araneus nordmanni
Bethlehem, Grafton County, New Hampshire, USA
August 27, 2014
Very large spider, estimated body size, excluding legs, about 3/4 inches. Someone thought this might be a Eustala cepina. Have another photo, taken at night with flash, that shows it with a large black spot on the upper body. Also had a black spot underneath with 2 white spots in it. The spider was on my living room window (outside) when I took the other photo (to be attached) that shows the view from the top, with the large dark spot. The spider was there the next morning, so took the attached photo that shows a front view. Also have a photo (not attached) of the underside, if desired.

Images of this individual: tag all
Orb Weaver? - Araneus nordmanni Orb Weaver? - Araneus nordmanni
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Contributed by DaveT on 27 August, 2014 - 5:58pm
Last updated 28 August, 2014 - 3:24pm

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
ID based on:

Nice one.
… Laura P., 28 August, 2014 - 3:24pm login or register to post comments

Maybe the "eyeball" morph of Araneus marmoreus?
Like this one:
… Peter Edelman, 27 August, 2014 - 7:54pm login or register to post comments

 
You got it
I'm sure that's it. That black spot looks identical in shape to mine, and both photos have two black dots between the large black spot and the head. The only other photos I see are from Ontario Canada at http://bugguide.net/node/view/221505 and they further confirm it with the markings between the head and those 2 black dots.

Sounds like the morphed version is fairly rare.

Thanks!
… DaveT, 27 August, 2014 - 8:36pm login or register to post comments

 
The leg annulations ...
and front of the abdomen are a bit different, I considered that one too. The tubercles (shoulders) are a bit to prominent for A. marmoreus. Still quite similar!
… Laura P., 28 August, 2014 - 3:25pm login or register to post comments

 
Another thing ...
I just noticed was that the ventral was described as having being a black spot with two white spots in it, which is good for A. nordmanni:

A. marmoreus' ventral is more like two commas:
… Laura P., 28 August, 2014 - 3:35pm login or register to post comments

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