Metazygia zilloides
(Banks, 1898)
Metazygia zilloides is an orb-weaving spider in the Araneidae, described by Banks in 1898. The occurs across a broad geographic range spanning the United States, the Caribbean, and Central America through Honduras. Like other members of the Metazygia, it constructs orb-shaped webs to capture prey. The species has been documented in over 1,300 observations on iNaturalist, indicating it is relatively frequently encountered within its range.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Metazygia zilloides: //mɛtəˈzaɪɡiə zɪˈlɔɪdiːz//
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Distribution
United States; Caribbean; Guatemala; Honduras; and broadly Middle America and North America. The spans from the Caribbean Sea through Central America to the southern United States.
More Details
Taxonomic note
The specific epithet 'zilloides' suggests resemblance to the Zilla, a historical spider genus now synonymized with Araneus. This indicates Banks perceived morphological similarities between this and members of that group when describing it in 1898.
Observation frequency
The has accumulated 1,339 observations on iNaturalist, suggesting it is not uncommon and is actively documented by naturalists across its range.