Neoscona crucifera, commonly known as the spotted orbweaver, is an orb weaver species indigenous to the Eastern part of North America.
Description of the spotted orb weaver
The abdomen, which is usually a shade of brown or reddish brown, has a slight pattern but nothing that stands out, and is usually covered with thick hairs. The legs will have brown or red-brown coloring closer to the body and have black and white / tan bands on the half furthest away from the cephalothorax.
In Texas, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico, the range of the spotted orb weaver overlaps with the western spotted orb weaver (Neoscona oaxacensis). Most of the time, these two species can be distinguished. However, since the western spotted orb weaver can take on various appearances, it might look similar to Neoscona crucifera. Both of these spiders are not medically significant.
Size
The body of the female adult will grow to ¾ of an inch (19 mm). If you include the legs, they can reach around 1 ½ inches (38 mm).
Web
As any orb weaver, the spotted orb weaver spins webs to catch small insects. The web is orb-shaped and is rebuild every day.
Bite
The spotted orb weaver is not an aggressive spider. However, in some situations, it occurs that it bites a human or a pet. The symptoms are usually comparable with a bee sting and will not have any long term negative effects.
Neoscona crucifera scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Chelicerata
- Class: Arachnida
- Order: Araneae
- Infraorder: Araneomorphae
- Family: Aranidae
- Genus: Neoscona
- Species: Neoscona crucifera
Common Names
Most commonly, Neoscona crucifera are called spotted orbweavers. Other common names are Hentz orbweaver and barn spider.
Distribution of spotted orbweavers in the USA
The spotted orbweaver appears in the eastern United States. It is commonly found all over the east coast, to Minnesota in the north and until eastern Arizona in the South. The spotted orb weaver can be found in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Spotted orb-weaver reader images
Below is an image gallery of the numerous photos of spotted orbweavers that our readers have shared with us
This spider is making a web on the outside of my window in Hedgesville, WV. Beautiful Halloween-perfect web about 2 feet in diameter.
Hello Rebecca, this is a female orbweaver of the genus Neoscona. Given the coloration, it’s most likely Neoscona domiciliorum: https://bugguide.net/node/view/2034
This guy looks mean! He’s super fast and rebuilds his web every night. Is this the correct spider?
Hello Connor, thanks for sharing this great shot! Yes, you’ve come to the right page – this is Neoscona crucifera.
Found this beauty outside my back door in a suburb of St. Louis, MO. Tried using your identification tools, and I’m assuming it’s some species of an Orb spider, but couldn’t land on the same back markings.
His underside has two closely spaced white dots. I’ll try to upload that pic in another reply. Thank you!
Hello Laura, thanks for getting in touch and thanks for sharing this great shot! This is a female spotted orbweaver (Neoscona crucifera): https://usaspiders.com/neoscona-crucifera-spotted-orb-weaver/
Underside of spider found in St. Louis, MO
Hello Sherrie, thanks for getting in touch! No, this guy is highly unlikely to eat you 🙂
This is a harmless spotted orbweaver (Neoscona crucifera). They spin orb-shaped webs to catch flying insects – great free pest control. Here is more information about them: https://usaspiders.com/neoscona-crucifera-spotted-orb-weaver/
Hairy spider in central Ohio, outside of sunroom
What the hell is this thing. About as big as a quarter. Found in Utah.
Hello Jenny, this is an orbweaver (family Araneidae), possibly a spotted orbweaver (Neoscona crucifera): https://usaspiders.com/neoscona-crucifera-spotted-orb-weaver/
I found this spider outside my window and they are larger than 3 and 1/2 inches big. It is a brown-clear color and has a yellow,white, and Black underside.
Hi Rose, this is a spotted orbweaver (Neoscona crucifera): https://usaspiders.com/neoscona-crucifera-spotted-orb-weaver/
This is one of two large spiders that has set up shop near the lights at the front door. This is the smaller of the two, the colors are not as vivid, and it looks like a cross on the body.
Hi Bryan, this is a spotted orbweaver (Neoscona sp.) – possibly Neoscona crucifera: https://usaspiders.com/neoscona-crucifera-spotted-orb-weaver/
I found this one in Indianapolis, IN. It’s brown and black, with alternating colored bands on the legs, and hairs on both the body and legs. The body is approximately 3/8 to 1/2 inch long with a spade-shaped rear and two small points near the front. There was no accompanying web that I could see, but I saw it in mid-air, then it quickly ran up a single strand of webbing when I approached.
Hi Andy, this is a male orbweaver, possibly a male spotted orbweaver (Neoscona crucifera): https://usaspiders.com/neoscona-crucifera-spotted-orb-weaver/
Saw this spider on a plant in my garden. I live in Sanford, NC.
Fairly uniform in color. Hairy. Body about the size of a dime.
Hi Susan, this is a male spotted orbweaver (Neoscona sp.): https://usaspiders.com/neoscona-crucifera-spotted-orb-weaver/
What kind of spider is this?
What type of spider is this? It builds a web at night and seems to take it down by morning.
Based on other pictures,I believe this is a Neoscona crucifera. She’s currently taken up residence outside my window in Atlanta, GA.
My daughters and I found this beauty on our recycling bin. I think it’s a female spotted orb weaver? Is that right? She’s pretty!
Hello! Found this guest under the ceiling of my porch. I’m in eastern North Carolina, in the mountains. I can’t tell if it’s a spotted or a red-femured orbweaver. What do you think?
Orb spider?
Lower Milford Township. L
LeHigh County, Pennsylvania
Hello Ed, yes, this is an orb weaver. More specifically, a spotted orb weaver (Neoscona crucifera): https://usaspiders.com/neoscona-crucifera-spotted-orb-weaver/
I think this is a spotted orb weaver in Yorktown, VA.
I found this spider in my patio tonight. Does this look like a spotted orb weaver?