Lattice Orbweaver Spider (Araneus thaddeus)

Detailing the physical features, habits, territorial reach and other identifying qualities of the Lattice Orbweaver Spider.

Updated: 1/22/2014; Authored By Staff Writer; Content ©www.InsectIdentification.org

Lattice Orbweaver Spider

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The web of the Lattice Orb Weaver Spider is a neat round of silky ladders, radiating from the center.

The characteristics of the web are useful in identifying the Lattice Orb Weaver Spider. It also has six defined black spots on its abdomen. Each spot has a very pale ring around it. The yellow and orange coloring can vary in depth, but all of them create similar looking webs.

They can be found in meadows, tall grasses and bushes as well as fields and pastures. Their small orb-shaped webs are usually built low to the ground, not at elevations that most people would see before walking through.

Females lay eggs in autumn. The fertilized eggs are wrapped in an egg sac spun out of her silk. Spiderlings may hatch during part of the winter or they may overwinter completely, depending on the weather. All adults die in winter.

Basic Information

Common Name: Lattice Orbweaver Spider

Scientific Name: Araneus thaddeus

Category: Spider

General Identification

Size (Adult; Length): 4mm to 9mm (0.16in to 0.35in)

Identifying Colors: yellow; brown; black; pink; ivory; orange

Additional Descriptors: biting, venomous, spots

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Arachnida

Order: Araneae

Family: Araneidae

Genus: Araneus

Species: thaddeus

Spider Anatomy (Typical)

Graphic showing basic parts of spider anatomy

1

Legs: Spiders have four pairs of legs and these are attached to the cephalothorax.

2

Pedipalps: Small appendages near the mouth used as taste and smell organs.

3

Cephalothorax: Contains eyes, head, mouthparts, and legs.

4

Abdomen: Contains various organs related to digestion, reproduction, and web-making.

5

Spinnerets: Used in the production of spider silk for fashioning webs or catching prey.

NOTE: Unlike insects, spiders have both an endoskeleton (internal) and exoskeleton (external).

Territorial Reach (A-to-Z)

Note: An insect's reach is not limited by lines drawn on a map and therefore species may appear in areas, regions and/or states beyond those listed below as they are driven by environmental factors (such as climate change), available food supplies and mating patterns. Grayed-out selections below indicate that the subject in question has not been reported in that particular territory. U.S. states and Canadian provinces / territories are clickable to their respective bug listings.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Mexico

Territorial Area Map (Visual Reference Guide)

The map below showcases (in red) the states and territories of North America where the Lattice Orbweaver Spider may be found (but is not limited to). This sort of data can be useful in seeing concentrations of a particular species over the continent as well as revealing possible migratory patterns over a species' given lifespan. Some species are naturally confined by environment, weather, mating habits, food resources and the like while others see widespread expansion across most, or all, of North America.

Alaska

Hawaii

Prince Edward Is.

Canadian territory of British Columbia graphic

Canadian territory of New Brunswick graphic

Canadian territory of Newfoundland and Labrador graphic

Canadian territory of Saskatchewan graphic

Territory map graphic of the country of Mexico

Contiguous United States shape map layer graphic

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