Community identification
Labyrinth Spider
Metepeira labyrinthea
- Order & Family
- Araneae, Araneidae
- Size
- Females 5-7 mm; Males are smaller (approx. 4 mm).
Natural Habitat
Found in forests, marshes, and gardens, typically building webs in deciduous and coniferous trees or shrubs.
Diet & Feeding
Insectivorous; primarily eats flying insects caught in its web, such as flies, gnats, and small moths.
Behavior Patterns
Constructs a composite web consisting of a flat orb-web and a complex, three-dimensional tangle (labyrinth) containing a silken retreat made of leaves and debris.
Risks & Benefits
Generally harmless to humans; provides ecological benefits by controlling nuisance insect populations.