Kidney Garden Spider
Scientific Name: Araneus mitificus
Order & Family: Araneae, Araneidae
Size: Females are typically 6-9 mm in body length, while the smaller males are around 3-5 mm.
Natural Habitat
Gardens, low shrubs, and vegetated areas, often building its web on or near human structures.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous, feeding on small insects such as flies, gnats, mosquitoes, and small moths that get caught in its orb-web.
Behavior Patterns
This spider is an orb-weaver, constructing a small, fine, circular web. It is often nocturnal, resting in a retreat made of a rolled-up leaf or silk during the day and waiting in the web's center at night for prey.
Risks & Benefits
Like most orb-weavers, it is not considered dangerous to humans. Its bite is unlikely and the venom is not medically significant. It is beneficial to the environment as it helps control populations of pest insects.
Identified on: 9/26/2025