Metepeira ventura

Chamberlin & Ivie, 1942

labyrinth spider

Metepeira ventura is an -weaving in the Araneidae, found in the United States and Mexico. Like other members of its , it constructs a characteristic web consisting of a small orb web connected to a thimble-like retreat surrounded by a tangled network of . A California has been studied for genetic diversity and its relationship to reproductive .

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Metepeira ventura: //ˌmɛtɛˈpaɪrə vɛnˈtʊrə//

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

Identification

Metepeira ventura can be distinguished from other Metepeira by examining genitalic characters; external alone is unreliable due to high color pattern variability across the . The web structure—a small web with a debris-decorated, tent-like retreat connected by a signal thread—is characteristic of the genus but not diagnostic to species. Mature females measure approximately 5.5–7.2 mm in body length, with males smaller at 3–4.5 mm.

Habitat

A coastal site in southern California has been documented as supporting a studied for genetic research. Other Metepeira in the western United States occur in arid .

Distribution

United States and Mexico.

Similar Taxa

  • Metepeira labyrintheaThe only other Metepeira commonly called 'labyrinth '; ranges in eastern North America rather than western, and differs in genitalic .
  • Other Metepeira speciesAll share the characteristic web architecture with web and retreat; -level identification requires examination of due to overlapping color patterns and body size ranges.

Tags

Sources and further reading