Neoscona domiciliorum
Encyclopedia
Neoscona domiciliorum, commonly known as the spotted orbweaver or redfemured spotted orbweaver, is a spider
in the family Araneidae. The specific epithet domiciliorum means "of dwellings" in Latin
and refers to the fact that this species is often found living on buildings. It is endemic to the United States
southeast of a line joining Texas, Indiana and Massachusetts.
has lateral broad, black stripes on either side with a thin transverse white band near the front making a pale cruciform
shape. The first segment of each leg is red while the remaining segments are banded in black and pale gray. The underside is dark with four white spots on the abdomen which is red at the tip. The male is about eight millimetres long and has a relatively small, linear abdomen. As in other species in the genus Neoscona
, there is a characteristic longitudinal groove on the carapace
which separates them from species in Araneus
.
s, particularly moist woods dominated by hardwood
trees. It is also found on buildings, especially under the eaves where it may go unnoticed because of its nocturnal habits. The web
is built by the female spotted orbweaver and is frequently replaced, being built at dusk and usually taken down before daybreak. Late in the season the web may be left in place during the day, perhaps because the female has greater nutritional needs at this time when she is preparing for egg laying. The web is placed vertically in trees and shrubs or on a building. In contrast to webs built by species of Araneus, the hub is open and is crossed by only one or two threads. The orb of the web may be fifty centimetres in diameter with long frame lines attached to shrubs or to the ground. A retreat formed of leaves or debris bound together with silk
is built near one end of a frame line. This is for use during the day as at night the spider normally occupies the hub of the web and is alert to every tremor.
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
in the family Araneidae. The specific epithet domiciliorum means "of dwellings" in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and refers to the fact that this species is often found living on buildings. It is endemic to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
southeast of a line joining Texas, Indiana and Massachusetts.
Description
The female spotted orbweaver is seven to sixteen millimetres long and is sparsely covered in short gray hairs. The grayish abdomenOpisthosoma
The opisthosoma is the posterior part of the body in some arthropods, behind the prosoma . It is a distinctive feature of the subphylum Chelicerata...
has lateral broad, black stripes on either side with a thin transverse white band near the front making a pale cruciform
Cruciform
Cruciform means having the shape of a cross or Christian cross.- Cruciform architectural plan :This is a common description of Christian churches. In Early Christian, Byzantine and other Eastern Orthodox forms of church architecture this is more likely to mean a tetraconch plan, a Greek cross,...
shape. The first segment of each leg is red while the remaining segments are banded in black and pale gray. The underside is dark with four white spots on the abdomen which is red at the tip. The male is about eight millimetres long and has a relatively small, linear abdomen. As in other species in the genus Neoscona
Neoscona
Neoscona is a genus of spider in the family Araneidae with a mostly pantropical distribution. One species, N. adianta, has a palearctic distribution, and several species occur in North America....
, there is a characteristic longitudinal groove on the carapace
Carapace
A carapace is a dorsal section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods such as crustaceans and arachnids, as well as vertebrates such as turtles and tortoises. In turtles and tortoises, the underside is called the plastron.-Crustaceans:In crustaceans, the...
which separates them from species in Araneus
Araneus
Araneus is a genus of common orb-weaving spiders. It includes about 650 species, among which are the European garden spider and the barn spider.-Description:...
.
Distribution
This species is endemic to southeastern parts of the United States and has been recorded in Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.Biology
This species is generally found in woodland habitatHabitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
s, particularly moist woods dominated by hardwood
Hardwood
Hardwood is wood from angiosperm trees . It may also be used for those trees themselves: these are usually broad-leaved; in temperate and boreal latitudes they are mostly deciduous, but in tropics and subtropics mostly evergreen.Hardwood contrasts with softwood...
trees. It is also found on buildings, especially under the eaves where it may go unnoticed because of its nocturnal habits. The web
Spider web
A spider web, spiderweb, spider's web or cobweb is a device built by a spider out of proteinaceous spider silk extruded from its spinnerets....
is built by the female spotted orbweaver and is frequently replaced, being built at dusk and usually taken down before daybreak. Late in the season the web may be left in place during the day, perhaps because the female has greater nutritional needs at this time when she is preparing for egg laying. The web is placed vertically in trees and shrubs or on a building. In contrast to webs built by species of Araneus, the hub is open and is crossed by only one or two threads. The orb of the web may be fifty centimetres in diameter with long frame lines attached to shrubs or to the ground. A retreat formed of leaves or debris bound together with silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
is built near one end of a frame line. This is for use during the day as at night the spider normally occupies the hub of the web and is alert to every tremor.