Araneus marmoreus

Clerck, 1757

marbled orb-weaver, pumpkin spider

Araneus marmoreus is a medium-sized orb-weaving spider notable for the female's highly variable and often vividly colored , ranging from orange and yellow to pale cream with dark marbling or patterning. The exhibits two main color forms: var. marmoreus with orange abdomen and brown to black marbling, and var. pyramidatus with paler abdomen and a single dark mark at the rear. Females construct large vertical orb webs in moist wooded settings, often near streams, and hide in silken retreats during the day. The species has a Holarctic distribution spanning North America, Europe, and Asia, with recent records extending its known range to the Indian Himalayas.

Araneus marmoreus by (c) Nick Chirico, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nick Chirico. Used under a CC-BY license.Araneus marmoreus by (c) Bill Keim, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.Araneus marmoreus by (c) Claire Moxon-Waltz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Claire Moxon-Waltz. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Araneus marmoreus: /ˈa.ra.ne.us marˈmɔː.re.us/

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Images

Appearance

females reach 14 mm or more in body length with a very large, oval, sub-spherical that gives the its 'pumpkin spider' . Adult males are smaller, up to 7 mm. The is yellow to burnt-orange with a central dark line and dark lines down each side. are often red with black and white banding beginning on the tibia, , and ; legs may alternatively show light brown banding. The venter displays a black band enclosed by white brackets. Coloration is extraordinarily variable, with the abdominal folium pattern ranging from distinct dark-edged markings to reduced or absent patterns.

Sources and further reading