Ballooning-dispersal
Guides
Acanthepeira
Star-bellied Orb-web Spiders, Starbellied Orbweavers
Acanthepeira is a genus of orb-weaver spiders in the family Araneidae, first described by George Marx in 1883. The genus comprises five North American species, most notably Acanthepeira stellata, known for its distinctive star-shaped abdominal tubercles. These spiders are recognized for their unusual spiked abdomens that function as camouflage against predators. The genus ranges from southeastern Canada through the eastern and central United States to southern California.
Eustala
humpbacked orb-weavers
Eustala is a genus of orb-weaver spiders in the family Araneidae, first described by Eugène Simon in 1895. As of November 2024, the genus contains 87 species distributed primarily across the Americas, from the United States through Central America to South America, with highest diversity in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. Several species have been documented exhibiting specialized ecological relationships, including myrmecophily (living among ants) in Central American species that inhabit ant-defended acacia plants. The genus includes the well-known humpbacked orb-weaver, Eustala anastera, found across North and Central America.
Araneidaeorb-weaverspiderhumpbackedmyrmecophilyant-plant-mutualismNeotropicalNearcticEustala-anasteraEustala-oblongaEustala-illicitaweb-buildingpredatoracaciaPseudomyrmexPanamaBrazilGalápagosSimon-1895arachnologyentomologytropical-ecologycommensalismontogenyballooningoverwinteringjuvenilespider-wasp-preyCaliadurgus-hyalinatushost-parasitoid-interactionsthird-party-exploitationmutualism-exploitationcryptic-colorationnocturnal-foragingdiurnal-hiding-behaviorthorn-defenseorb-web-architecturesawtoothed-webpopulation-ecologysubstrate-selectionspatial-distributionspecies-diversityendemic-speciestaxonomic-revisionnomen-dubiumgenitalic-morphologymicroscopy-identificationtemperate-North-AmericaCentral-AmericaSouth-AmericaCaribbeanPacific-islandsconservation-biologyclimate-change-vulnerabilityphenology-disruptionwinter-activityspring-emergenceforest-understorydry-forestmoist-forestripariangrasslandscrubedge-habitatwoodlandparklandurban-adaptedgeneralist-predatorspecialist-predatorant-alate-predationherbivore-interceptionecosystem-servicebiological-controlnatural-historyfield-identificationcryptic-species-complexsexual-dimorphismwingless-female-mothsballooning-dispersalsilk-productionweb-ontogenyinstar-developmentoverwintering-strategycold-hardinessmetabolic-suppressiondiapausevoltinismunivoltinebivoltinemultivoltineseasonal-polyphenismcolor-morphpattern-polymorphismhabitat-specificityhost-plant-specificityant-colony-integrationalarm-pheromone-avoidancesting-avoidancepredator-avoidancebird-predationlizard-predationwasp-predationassassin-bug-predationstink-bug-predationdefensive-behaviorthanatosiscamouflagemasquerademimicryaggressive-mimicryforaging-ecologyprey-captureweb-maintenanceweb-repairsilk-recyclingenergeticsreproductive-outputfecundityegg-sac-constructionmaternal-caremale-searching-behaviormate-locationpheromone-communicationvibratory-communicationvisual-signalingterritorialityweb-site-fidelityweb-site-tenacitydispersal-behaviorcolonization-abilityrange-expansioninvasive-potentialnon-native-speciesintroduced-speciessynanthropicagricultural-landscapeorchardvineyardforest-plantationconservation-statusdata-deficientIUCNCITESprotected-areanational-parksoberaniachiribiquetegalapagosfloreanaecuadorperuboliviachileargentinauruguayparaguayvenezuelacolombiacosta-ricanicaraguahondurasguatemalabelizemexicousacanadacubahispaniolajamaicapuerto-ricotrinidadtobagobarbadoslesser-antillesgreater-antilleswest-indiescaribbean-basinamazon-basinorinocoparanapantanalcerradocaatingaatlantic-forestpampaschacoyungasvaldivianmagellanicfynbosnoneresearch-modeleducational-resourcecitizen-scienceinaturalistgbifcatalogue-of-lifencbiwikipediazootaxajournal-of-natural-historypsycheentomology-todaybug-ericaraneologychelicerate-biologyarthropod-ecologytropical-biologyneotropical-faunanearctic-faunaholarticpantropicalgondwananbiogeographyphylogeographymolecular-systematicsmorphological-taxonomyintegrative-taxonomyspecies-conceptcryptic-diversityundescribed-speciesnew-species-descriptionredescriptionneotype-designationlectotype-designationtype-localitytype-specimenmuseum-collectionvoucher-specimendna-barcodingcoiitsphylogenomicstranscriptomicsproteomicsmetabolomicsecological-genomicsadaptationlocal-adaptationphenotypic-plasticitycanalizationevolutionary-developmental-biologyevo-devobehavioral-ecologysensory-ecologyvisual-ecologychemical-ecologymechanoreceptionproprioceptionneuroethologyhunting-behaviorweb-building-behaviorconstruction-behaviortool-useextended-phenotypeniche-constructionecosystem-engineeringtrophic-cascadefood-webenergy-flownutrient-cyclingdecompositionpredator-prey-dynamicspopulation-dynamicsmetapopulationsource-sink-dynamicshabitat-fragmentationedge-effectscorridorsconnectivitylandscape-ecologymacroecologybiogeochemistryclimate-envelopespecies-distribution-modelingmaxentbioclimworldclimremote-sensinggisspatial-analysisgeostatisticsabundancedensitybiomassproductivitydiversity-indexrichnessevennessdominancerarityendemismbeta-diversitygamma-diversityalpha-diversityturnovernestednesscommunity-assemblyneutral-theoryniche-theorycompetitionfacilitationapparent-competitionindirect-effectsinteraction-networksmutualismparasitismpredationherbivorydetritivoryscavengingcannibalismintraspecific-competitioninterspecific-competitioncharacter-displacementresource-partitioningniche-differentiationcoexistencestabilityresilienceresistancerecoverysuccessiondisturbanceperturbationextinctioncolonizationinvasionestablishmentspreadimpactrisk-assessmentmanagementcontroleradicationrestorationreintroductionrewildingconservation-breedingex-situin-situprotected-area-networkgap-analysissystematic-conservation-planningprioritizationhotspotcoldspotmajorityminorityflagshipumbrellakeystonefoundationecosystem-engineerindicatorsentinelbioindicatorbiomonitorecosystem-healthenvironmental-qualitypollutionpesticideheavy-metalcontaminantbioaccumulationbiomagnificationtoxicologyriskhazardexposuredose-responseno-observed-effect-concentrationlowest-observed-effect-concent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htperchroostnestdenburrowtunneldigexcavateminequarryextractremoveeliminateeradicateexterminatedestroydemolishruinwreckdamageharminjurehurtwoundmaimcripplelamedisableincapacitateparalyzestunshockastonishamazeastoundstaggerstupefydazebewilderconfusepuzzleperplexbafflemystifyenigmaLarinioides sclopetarius
bridge-spider, gray cross spider, grey cross spider, bridge orbweaver
Larinioides sclopetarius is a relatively large orb-weaving spider in the family Araneidae with Holarctic distribution. Native to Europe, it has been introduced to North America and is strongly associated with human-made structures, particularly bridges, where it builds webs near artificial light sources over water. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism in body mass and leg proportions, with males maturing faster and earlier than females. It is notable for its high density aggregations in urban environments, where light-attracted insect prey supports populations of up to 100 individuals per square meter in optimal feeding locations.
Lymantria dispar
spongy moth, gypsy moth
Lymantria dispar is a forest-defoliating moth native to Europe and Asia, now invasive across multiple continents including North America. The species is notable for pronounced sexual dimorphism in adults and variable flight capability among subspecies—females of the European subspecies (L. d. dispar) are flightless, while Asian subspecies possess flight-capable females. Larvae are polyphagous and have been documented feeding on over 500 plant species. The species ranks among the world's most destructive invasive forest pests, with documented outbreaks exceeding 2.5 million caterpillars per hectare.
Misumena
Flower Crab Spiders
Misumena is a genus of crab spiders in the family Thomisidae, commonly known as flower crab spiders. The genus contains approximately 40 species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere, with the most well-known species being Misumena vatia, the goldenrod crab spider. These spiders are ambush predators that hunt on flowers, where they rely on camouflage to capture pollinating insects. Some species, particularly females of M. vatia, exhibit remarkable color-changing abilities, shifting between white and yellow to match their floral substrate.
Trichonephila clavata
Jorō spider, Joro Spider, Parachute spider
Trichonephila clavata, commonly known as the Jorō spider, is a large orb-weaving spider native to East Asia that has become established as an invasive species in the southeastern United States since approximately 2010. First confirmed in Georgia in 2014, it has expanded rapidly across multiple states through a combination of ballooning dispersal and human-mediated transport. The species is notable for its substantial size, striking coloration, and extensive golden webs, but poses minimal risk to humans due to small fangs and docile behavior. Its physiological adaptations—including higher metabolic rate, faster heart rate, and greater cold tolerance than its congener Trichonephila clavipes—suggest potential for continued northward range expansion.
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clavipes
Golden Silk Orb-weaver, Golden Silk Spider, Golden Orb Weaver Spider, Banana Spider
Trichonephila clavipes, commonly known as the golden silk orb-weaver, is a large orb-weaving spider native to continental North and South America. Females are among the largest non-tarantula spiders in North America, measuring 24–40 mm in length, with distinctive yellow-brown coloration and long legs bearing black brush-like tufts of hair. The species is renowned for producing golden-colored silk—one of the strongest known biological materials—and constructing large asymmetrical orb webs up to 1–2 meters in diameter. Unlike its congener Trichonephila clavata (Jorō spider), T. clavipes has limited cold tolerance and remains largely confined to warmer southern regions of the United States despite being established there for over 160 years.
Xysticus cristatus
common crab spider
Xysticus cristatus, commonly known as the common crab spider, is a small ambush predator in the family Thomisidae. Females reach 6–8 mm body length, while males are smaller at 3–5 mm. The species exhibits cryptic coloration ranging from light cream to dark brown or greyish, with distinct patterning that blends with dried leaf litter. It hunts by waiting motionless with forelegs spread wide, capturing insects that blunder within reach. The species has a broad Palearctic distribution and has been introduced to North America.