Subject: Minnesota spider with “v” markings?
Geographic location of the bug: Hennepin County, Minnesota
Date: 10/10/2017
Time: 05:37 PM EDT
I found this spider on a building next to the Mississippi River in early October. I thought identifying it would be easy because of the clear “v” markings on the abdomen and thorax and large pedipalps, but I can’t find it anywhere! It ran away before I could get a picture of its eye arrangement, but I estimate it was about 1.5-1.75 inches long (including legs).
How you want your letter signed: Eli
Dear Eli,
This looks to us like a male Orbweaver, probably in the genus Araneus. It looks similar to the male Barn Spider posted to BugGuide.