
Community identification
Orchard Spider
Leucauge venusta
- Order & Family
- Araneae, Tetragnathidae
- Size
- 3 to 8 mm for females; males are significantly smaller
Natural Habitat
Woodlands, gardens, and shrubbery across North and Central America
Diet & Feeding
Strictly carnivorous; feeds on small insects like flies, gnats, and leafhoppers caught in their webs
Behavior Patterns
Builds horizontal or slightly tilted orb webs; typically hangs upside down in the center of the web
Risks & Benefits
Benefits the ecosystem by controlling pest populations; they are harmless to humans and rarely bite