gorgeous spider
Location: Eastern Long Island, NY
November 1, 2010 1:26 pm
My teacher found a spider with a reddish coral colored body (cephalothorax), red and white/clear striped legs, and a black and yellow abdomen that looks like a Rorschach test. The spider was about .5 inch long.
Signature: spider nerd
Dear spider nerd,
Sometimes we go back a ways through unanswered mail to find an interesting letter to post, and today we happened upon your lovely image of a highly variable Marbled Orbweaver, Araneus marmoreus. This is only one possible color combination, but it is a distinctive one. You can compare your photo to this image posted to BugGuide.
I just found one of these in my cottage in Trufant, Michigan. Very pretty.
Just found one on a leaf on a tree in my front yard, York county Pennsylvania!
One has spun a web between the house and the kayaks. We’re in Sussex County Delaware.
I’s this spider possible to be in the South and is it poisons?
BugGuide data does indicate sightings in the south. Though venomous, the bite of a Marbled Orbweaver is not considered dangerous to a human and it will likely only cause localized discomfort and swelling.
We had to move the kayaks for construction so we relocated her/him to a tree. She/He went to the very top and wove another web. Seems happier in new home.