Orb Weavers
What are they?
In many ways, these could be considered 'Classic' spiders, for these are the species most often seen sitting in the middle of their webs during late summer and fall. Their webs usually consist of a flat spiral or series of concentric rings, spun across a gap in the vegetation to catch flying insects. Our largest spider is found in this family, as well as some of our commonest field and woodland species. Most species overwinter as eggs, with small adults going unnoticed early in the season, until they mature and become very much evident later in the year. Adults usually die once cold winter weather starts to set in. Most individuals you will see will be females on their webs. Males spend most of their short lives in search of females and are often much smaller than their partners. A distinctive feature of the webs of many species is an area of thickened silk at or near the center of the web which is known as the stabilimentum. Experts disagree on the function of this structure - it might serve to stabilize the web, it might serve to make the web visible to birds so that they don't stray into the web and damage it, or it may have some other function.
Identification
Some species are highly distinctive and readily identified to species, and can be identified from the pictures below. Others are less easily identified, requiring a hand lens or even microscopy. Some species have distinctive stabilimenta on their webs.
Yellow Garden Spider Argiope aurantia
A widespread species of open areas. The females of this species are among the largest of our spiders and can be quite daunting when they are suddenly chanced across. Males are much smaller and harder to ifnd but females can be quite plentiful during the fall. Juveniles are black and white, becoming black and yellow as they get older.
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Arrowhead Orbweaver Verrucosa arenata
A widespread species of open areas, this spider is variable in color but always show a distinctly triangular shape to the abdomen. Unusual for orb weavers, this species sits 'head up' in its web.
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Arabesque Orbweaver Neoscona arabesca
A well-marked species of open places. The back usually has a series of bold, black marks.
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Spotted Orbweaver Neoscona domiciliorum
An attractive species of woodland, where its bold pattern of white lines can blend in surprisingly well in dappled sunlight.
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Hentz's Orbweaver Neoscona crucifera
A pale-backed, poorly-marked species, with a dark belly and strongly banded legs.
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Lined Orbweaver Mangora gibberosa
A common, small and pale spider, typically found low down in grassy areas. Webs have a distinctive, circular stabilimentum near the center.
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Basilica Orbweaver Mecynogea lemniscata
A widespread species of open areas, which is often found in colonies, with individual webs made in close proximity to each other. A slender spider with spindly legs and usually marked in orange and black.
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Spined Micrathena Micrathena gracilis
This is one of our most abundant spiders, and it is almost impossible to walk through woodland during late summer or fall without catching a face-full of micrathena web! The female's chunky abdomen with 10 spines is distinctive; males are smaller and narrower with fewer spines.
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Arrow-shaped Micrathena Micrathena sagittata
Less common than Spined Micrathena and with an abdomen that is drawn out into two spines at the back, giving a triangular shape.
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