
Araneus
Araneus is a genus of common orb-weaving spiders. It includes about 650 species, among which are the European garden spider and the barn spider.
How many species of marbled orbweaver spiders are there?
Marbled Orbweaver Spider. The genus Araneus has about 1,500 species worldwide, making it the largest of all the spider genera. Araneus marmoreus female.
Where is Araneus marmoreus found?
Araneus marmoreus is found throughout all of Canada to Alaska, the northern Rockies, from North Dakota to Texas, and then east to the Atlantic.
Where do spider webs come from?
The webs are found in trees, shrubs and tall weeds, and grasses in moist, wooded settings and can frequently be found along the banks of streams. The webs are oriented vertically and have a "signal" thread attached to the center that notifies the spider when prey has been captured. Unlike the Argiope garden spiders, Araneus marmoreus hides in a silken retreat to the side of the web (at the end of the signal thread). Adults construct this retreat using leaves folded over and held together with silk. Immature spiders make their retreats out of silk only.
Where do Araneus hide?
Unlike the Argiope garden spiders, Araneus marmoreus hides in a silken retreat to the side of the web (at the end of the signal thread). Adults construct this retreat using leaves folded over and held together with silk. Immature spiders make their retreats out of silk only.
What is a marbled orb weaver?
Marbled Orb-weaver. (Araneus marmoreus) The marbled orb-weaver, belonging to the class Arachnida, is one of the good-looking spiders. Their abdomen has several marble-like patterns which are the reason behind the name. Physical Description and Identification. Adults.
What color are orb weaver spiders?
Scientific name: Araneus marmoreus. Marbled Orb Weaver Spider. Color: Orange or light brown legs and carapaces along with black or white stripes at the leg end. The abdomen is orange, yellow or white having white, grey or black marble-like patterns. Other Characteristic Features: The abdomen is oval and their tibial spines are of two types.
What is the signal thread on a spider's web?
The vertically oriented web usually has a signal thread which vibrates when a prey is captured and the spider then come out to devour it.
Where do the sailors hide after making the web?
After making the web, they hide in a silk retreat.
Do marbled orb weavers mate?
Male marbled orb-weavers are polygamous but females mate only once in their lives. Sometimes, both the male and female die after the mating. After making the web, they hide in a silk retreat. The male strokes the body of a female with his legs during the courtship.
What is the name of the spider that is a marbled orbweaver?
Epeira raji (Scopoli, 1763) Araneus marmoreus, commonly called the marbled orbweaver, is a species of spider belonging to the family Araneidae. It is sometimes also called the pumpkin spider from the resemblance of the female's inflated abdomen to an orange pumpkin. It has a Holarctic distribution.
How big is an orbweaver?
The female has a body length (excluding legs) of up to 18 mm while the male is rather smaller at 9 mm. Adult female marbled orbweavers are 9 to 20 millimeters in length with very large oval, sub-spherical abdomens. The most common color morph is an orange abdomen with brown to black markings.
Where is Araneus marmoreus found?
Distribution. Araneus marmoreus has a Holarctic distribution, being found from North America through Europe to Japan. In North America, it is found throughout all of Canada to Alaska, the northern Rockies, from North Dakota to Texas, and then east to the Atlantic.
Where do spider webs come from?
The webs are found in trees, shrubs and tall weeds, and grasses in moist, wooded settings and can frequently be found along the banks of streams. The webs are oriented vertically and have a "signal" thread attached to the center that notifies the spider when prey has been captured. Unlike Argiope garden spiders, Araneus marmoreus hides in a silken retreat to the side of the web (at the end of the signal thread). The retreat can be made from leaves folded over and held together with silk, silk only, or under leaves and other debris.
Who first described Araneus marmoreus?
Taxonomy. Araneus marmoreus was first described by Carl Alexander Clerck in 1757. In the same work, he also described Araneus pyramidatus, now regarded as synonyms of A. marmoreus, as var. marmoreus .
What is the name of the marbled orb weaver?
Araneus marmoreus. (Marbled Orb-weaver) The spider species Araneus marmoreus, commonly known as Marbled Orb-weaver, belongs to the genus Araneus, in the family Araneidae. Araneus marmoreus spiders have been sighted 70 times by contributing members.
How many states are there for Araneus marmoreus?
Based on collected data, the geographic range for Araneus marmoreus includes 3 countries and 19 states in the United States. Araneus marmoreus is most often sighted outdoors, and during the month of October. Overview. Pictures (70)

Araneidae—Orbweavers
- Araneus marmoreus The genus Araneus has about 1,500 species worldwide, making it the largest of all the spider genera. Araneus marmoreus is found throughout all of Canada to Alaska, the northern Rockies, from North Dakota to Texas, and then east to the Atlantic.
Description
- Adult female marbled orbweavers are 9 to 20 millimeters in length with very large abdomens that are mostly orange with brown to purple markings and spots of pale yellow. Occasionally the abdomens are nearly white in color. The cephalothorax is yellow to burnt-orange with a central dark line and dark lines down either side. The femora and patellae are orange. The other leg seg…
Life History/Behavior
- The webs are found in trees, shrubs and tall weeds, and grasses in moist, wooded settings and can frequently be found along the banks of streams. The webs are oriented vertically and have a "signal" thread attached to the center that notifies the spider when prey has been captured. Unlike the Argiope garden spiders, Araneus marmoreus hides in a silken retreat to the side of the web (…
Medical Importance
- It is unlikely that bites would occur unless people handled a female with an egg sac in the web. Even then, the bite would likely cause no more discomfort than a wasp or bee sting in most individuals.
Reference
- Baerg, W. J. 1936. The Black Widow. Ark. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bul. 325. 34 pp. Baerg, W. J. 1959. The Black Widow and Five Other Venomous Spiders in the United States. Ark. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bul. 608. 43 pp. Bradley, R. A. 2013. Common Spiders of North America. University of California Press. 271 pp. Breene, R. G., et al. 2003. Common Names of Arachnids. 5th ed. The American Arachnologic…
Physical Description and Identification
- Adults
Size: Females are 0.35-0.8 in (9-20 mm) while males are around 0.19-0.35 in (5-9 mm). Color: Orange or light brown legs and carapaces along with black or white stripes at the leg end. The abdomen is orange, yellow or white having white, grey or black marble-like patterns. Other Chara… - Eggs
Around hundred eggs are released inside a fluffy and silky flat sphere-shaped egg cocoon or sac in October. All eggs are orange.
The Web
- The vertically oriented web usually has a signal thread which vibrates when a prey is captured and the spider then come out to devour it.
Are Marbled Orb-Weaver Poisonous
- Its venom is only effective on its preys to paralyze them. If it bites humans there is just a mark with no such serious injury.
Did You Know
- Male marbled orb-weavers are polygamous but females mate only once in their lives.
- Sometimes, both the male and female die after the mating.
- After making the web, they hide in a silk retreat.
- The male strokes the body of a female with his legs during the courtship.