Cyrtophora citricola

Distinguished from typical Araneidae by horizontal, tent-shaped, non-adhesive web structure rather than vertical sticky orb web. Differs from congeners by broader cephalic structures than Manogea species and specific tubercle arrangement on abdomen. In some regions may be confused with Mecynogea lemniscata. Web structure is primary field diagnostic: thick silk strand barrier above horizontal orb, thinner barrier below, creating mesh-like appearance without viscid spiral.

Highly adaptable to diverse environments. Most prevalent in olive orchards and undergrowth. Found in tropical agricultural operations, ornamental trees, fruit trees, and various flowering plants including Eugenia species. In Florida, builds webs on canal bridges from Everglades National Park to east coast. Prefers to build webs in forks between branches and leaves. Cannot survive temperatures below -1°C.

Native to warmer parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Established in Australia, Costa Rica, Hispaniola, Colombia. Introduced to Florida (first recorded 2000), Puerto Rico (2008), Cuba (2003), Haiti (1998). Expanding range in Southern United States. Global distribution broader than close relatives which are regionally restricted.

Active from middle of summer to beginning of fall. Adults mate between June and September. Nocturnal foraging with daytime inactivity. Colony dynamics show cyclical patterns of growth and decline with regional asynchrony; seasonal effects differ between years.

Preys on small to medium sized arthropods including moths, flies, dragonflies, beetles, pentatomids, and orthopterans. Captures prey using web deflection technique: insects fly into upper mesh layer and are deflected into orb web below. Four distinct attack sequences observed depending on prey type, involving combinations of biting and wrapping in silk.

Juveniles disperse or build own webs off maternal webs after four days; less likely to leave in larger webs. Mothers feed offspring; sibling aggression increases when prey scarce, promoting early dispersal. Egg sacs 12–20 mm diameter, bluish-green, laid in chains up to 10 sacs containing 100–200 flat elliptical eggs each. Females guard egg sacs by resting directly underneath. Solitary females produce up to 20% more eggs than colonial females, possibly due to trade-off with parasite protection and reduced predation in colonies.

Nocturnal: foraging and prey capture occur at night; daytime spent idle and concealed from predators. Web jerking (quick pulling of radii with front leg) and web shaking (rapid downward leg motions causing web vibration) used for prey location, signal transmission, dislodging stuck prey, and deterring kleptoparasites. When attacked, drops to ground to camouflage or pulls legs inward toward abdomen. Exhibits thermoregulative positioning during hot periods to minimize sun exposure.

Predator of agricultural pest insects. Potential biological control agent for Diaphorina citri (Asian citrus psyllid vector of citrus greening disease) and Tuta absoluta (tomato pest). Colony webs may reduce airflow to covered plants causing damage. Kleptoparasites including Argyrodes argyrodes and Argyrodes gibbosus steal prey and eggs; Holocnemus pluchei builds webs off C. citricola webs and preys on juveniles. Egg sacs parasitized by Pediobius pyrgo and Philolema palanichamyi wasps, reducing spiderling emergence by approximately 60%.

Significant agricultural impact both positive and negative. Negative: dense webs damage citrus, coffee, and ornamental plants by restricting airflow; classified as important agricultural pest in Dominican Republic. Control efforts include high-pressure water sprayers and chemical treatments. Positive: investigated as biological control agent for multiple crop pests. Expanding presence in Florida has made it common backyard nuisance.

• Mecynogea lemniscataMay be confused with C. citricola in some regions; distinguished by web structure and abdominal tubercle arrangement
• Manogea speciesCongeneric orb-weavers; C. citricola has broader cephalic structures
• Typical Araneidae orb-weaversC. citricola differs fundamentally in building horizontal non-adhesive tent-webs rather than vertical sticky orb webs with viscid spiral

• colonial spider
• orb-weaver
• agricultural pest
• biological control
• sexual dimorphism
• social spider
• invasive species
• tent-web

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Encyrtid Holdings | Entomology Research Museum
• Publications | Entomology Research Museum
• Ageniaspis-citricola - Entomology Today
• Ageniaspis citricola Archives - Entomology Today
• Biological Control in Brazil is Used on an Area that is Larger than Belgium
• Heterogeneity Studies of Cyrtophora citricola in Puerto Rico
• Long-Term Colony Dynamics and Fitness in a Colonial Tent-Web Spider Cyrtophora citricola
• Cyrtophora citricola as a potential component of an integrated pest management program for citrus in Puerto Rico
• Group-Living Spider Cyrtophora citricola as a Potential Novel Biological Control Agent of the Tomato Pest Tuta absoluta.