Longjawed Orb Weavers: Tetragnathidae
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The longjawed orb weavers, family Tetragnathidae, are an orb weaving family differentiated from the orb weaving spiders of the Family Araneidae by an extended jaw.
The top picture also shows their characteristic long legs and thin bodies.
Six genera of longjawed orb weavers live in the United States. However, the most common species come from the genus Leucauge and genus Tetragnatha.
The most widespread genus, Tetragnatha genus, often build orb shaped webs near wetlands and other water areas.
Picture two shows the tetragnatha extensa, with very long legs and a dull brown and cream color body. They can often be found stretched out along a leaf near their web.
The Orchard Spider (Leucauge venusta), picture three, one of two native Leucauge species, inhabits orchards, forests and field areas of the East and Midwest.
The green legs and colorful abdomen with dark borders make it a fairly easy spider to identify.
Leucauge argyra, the other native Leucauge species, goes without a common name.
Its range is considerably smaller than its better known relative the Orchard Spider (Leucauge venusta).
It inhabits forests and fields of Florida, perhaps spreading north into Georgia.
The brown legs are the best field ID clue to differentiate it from the Orchard Spider.
© 2005-2011 Patricia A. Michaels