Neoscona: Spotted Orbweaver

Types of Spiders Orb Weavers: Araneidae Genus Araneus Genus Argiope (Writing Spiders) Cyrtophora (Tropical tent-web Spider) Genus Eriophora (Tropical Orbweaver) Genus Gasteracantha (Spinybacked Orbweaver) Genus Larinia (Striped Orbweaver) More Types of Spiders

The Neoscona are a group of small to medium sized orb weavers. For their size, they build larger than average webs.

They commonly go by the name spotted orbweavers, and Neoscona species often look similar to those in the Araneus genus. The groove or indentation down the middle of the carapace (top body part) serves as a good field identification clue.

The top picture shows a Western Spotted Orbweaver (Neoscona oaxacensis).

The two triangular marks at the top of the abdomen, followed by the smaller oval marks, represent a typical N. oaxacensis pattern.

© 2005-2008 Patricia A. Michaels