Araneus corticarius

(Emerton, 1884)

Humped bog orbweaver

Araneus corticarius is a small orb-weaving spider in the Araneidae, commonly known as the humped bog orbweaver. The is distributed across the United States and Canada, with records from Alberta and British Columbia. As a member of the diverse Araneus, it constructs spiral orb webs typical of the family, though specific details of its remain poorly documented.

Common Spiders U.S. 392 Araneus corticarius by James Henry Emerton (1847 – 1931). Used under a Public domain license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Araneus corticarius: /ˌærəˈniːəs kɔːrˈtɪkəriəs/

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Identification

Distinguished from other Araneus by the presence of a pronounced hump on the , a trait reflected in its . Specific diagnostic characters for reliable field identification have not been well characterized in available literature. Examination of genitalic structures (epigyne in females, in males) would be required for definitive identification.

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Habitat

Associated with bog and wetland environments based on its , though specific microhabitat preferences have not been rigorously documented. Like other Araneus , likely constructs webs in vegetation.

Distribution

North America: United States and Canada. Canadian records include Alberta and British Columbia.

Ecological Role

As an orb-weaving spider, functions as a of flying insects within its . Specific ecological relationships have not been studied.

Similar Taxa

  • Araneus marmoreusSimilar size and orb-weaving habit, but lacks the pronounced abdominal hump characteristic of A. corticarius; also exhibits more variable and often brighter coloration patterns
  • Araneus diadematusOverlapping distribution and similar web structure, but has distinctive cross-shaped pattern on and lacks the humped profile

More Details

Taxonomic note

Described by James Henry Emerton in 1884. The specific epithet 'corticarius' (Latin: of bark) may suggest an original association with tree bark, though current emphasizes bog .

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