Mangora maculata

(Keyserling, 1865)

Green-legged Orbweaver, Greenlegged Orbweaver

Mangora maculata, commonly known as the green-legged orbweaver, is a of orb-weaving spider in the Araneidae. It is found in the United States and parts of Canada. The species is characterized by its distinctive green legs and builds vertical orb webs.

Mangora maculata by (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.Mangora maculata by (c) Bill Keim, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.Green-legged Orbweaver (Mangora maculata) - Guelph, Ontario 2017-06-16 by Ryan Hodnett. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Mangora maculata: /mæŋˈɡɔːrə mækjuˈleɪtə/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Can be distinguished from similar orb weavers in the Leucauge by its vertical orb web orientation; Leucauge build horizontal orb webs. Distinguished from the Basilica Spider by web structure—the Basilica Spider pulls its horizontal orb into a dome shape. Mangora maculata is small in size as an .

Images

Distribution

United States; Canada (Alberta, Manitoba)

Behavior

Constructs vertical orb webs.

Similar Taxa

  • Leucauge venustaSimilar appearance but builds horizontal orb webs rather than vertical ones
  • Leucauge argyraSimilar appearance but builds horizontal orb webs; restricted to Florida
  • Basilica SpiderBuilds horizontal orb webs pulled into a dome shape, unlike the flat vertical orb of Mangora maculata

More Details

Web orientation distinction

The vertical orientation of Mangora maculata's orb web is a key diagnostic feature separating it from superficially similar in other .

Tags

Sources and further reading