Community identification
Orb-weaver spider
Family Araneidae (genus Neoscona or Araneus common)
- Order & Family
- Order Araneae, Family Araneidae
- Size
- Commonly 6mm to 20mm for females, males are typically much smaller.
Natural Habitat
Found worldwide in gardens, forests, fields, and near buildings where they can anchor their webs.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous; feeds on flying insects caught in its web, such as flies, moths, and mosquitoes.
Behavior Patterns
Constructs large, circular, wheel-shaped webs. Many species are nocturnal, rebuilding their webs each day and resting at the center or in a nearby leaf retreat.
Risks & Benefits
Highly beneficial to ecosystems as natural pest control. They are generally reluctant to bite and their venom is not considered medically significant to humans.