Insect Quiz October, 2004

October Quiz 2004

You are going for a walk in a nearby park when you see a bright orange spider in a web between a couple of trees. As you look closely, the spider moves from the web into a rolled-up leaf. You have never seen a spider like this before and are very curious about it.

QUESTIONS

1. What kind of spider is it?

This is a marbled spider, Araneus marmoreus. It has reddish orange legs and its abdomen is orange or yellow with dark markings. It is a moderate-sized spider growing as large as 3/5th inch long. A marbled spider belongs to a very common group of spiders known as orb-weaving spiders. Like other orb-weaving spiders, a marbled spider builds a round, flat web with many strands of silk running through it.

2. Is it a native spider to Minnesota?

This spider is a common, native species in Minnesota. The best time to spot marbled spiders is during late summer and early fall when they have matured into adult spiders.

3. Why did it move from its web into the leaves?

Orb-weaving spiders in general spend much of their time in their webs. A marbled spider provides itself an extra measure of protection by webbing together several leaves that forms a tube. This creates a refuge that the spider can move into from its web. It is less exposed and vulnerable there then it would be in its web.

4. Is this spider dangerous?

Despite its color, a marble spider is very unaggressive towards people and would be very unlikely to bite someone. Orb-weaving spiders generally stay in their webs further reducing the likelihood of a spider coming in contact with a person. In the unlikely event that a marbled spider would bite a person, it would not feel any worse than a mild bee sting.