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Labyrinthine Orb Weaver Spider (Metepeira labyrinthia)


Detailing the physical features, habits, territorial reach and other identifying qualities of the Labyrinthine Orb Weaver Spider


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Labyrinthine Orb Weaver Spiders have distinctive double webs that help them use their surroundings to camouflage themselves.



Updated: 01/04/2022; Authored By Staff Writer; Content ©www.InsectIdentification.org
The web of this spider is made of tight concentric rings, like the circular mazes seen on kid menus. It is one part of the web; the other part is a tangled mess that makes up a retreat. This configuration may help identify the spider sitting near it. The Labyrinthine Orb Weaver Spider conceals itself in the retreat web using dried leaves or other debris to help camouflage it. The spider sits with its legs tucked under and around itself in a narrow hiding spot, like a curled leaf, while waiting for insects to become ensnared in the larger web. Once a prey item is snagged in the web, the Labyrinthine Orb Weaver Spider moves toward it, bites it to immobilize it with venom, and then proceeds to wrap the prey in a cocoon of spider silk where it will remain until the spider wants to consume it.

A Labyrinthine Orb Weaver is brown with a distinct pattern on the abdomen. A jagged-edged black triangle points to the rear. This black area is surrounded with a white border with fine white dashes along the middle. Two sets of white curls begin near the waist. A stripe of light hairs runs down the center of this black triangle. Legs have brown-orange 'thighs', but the rest of is covered with wide black and white bands.

Adults are active from early spring to late fall. Males stop building and maintaining webs once they mature. Reproduction occurs in rainy spells during spring. Females wrap multiple egg sacs in silk, stranding them together like a string of pearls. This strand of egg sacs is then attached to her web and disguised as debris thanks to the twigs and leaves she places around it. She will guard her egg sacs until the spiderlings hatch and jump off her web to start lives of their own.©InsectIdentification.org


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General Characteristics


Capability, Shape, Texture/Pattern, Benefits, Dangers
Insect biting icon
Venomous insect icon


Taxonomic Hierarchy


Species Breakdown
Kingdom: Animalia
  Phylum: Arthropoda
    Class: Arachnida
      Order: Araneae
        Family: Araneidae
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          Genus: Metepeira
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            Species: labyrinthia

Identifying Information


Size, Colors, Features
Scientific Name: Metepeira labyrinthia
Other Name(s): Labyrinth Orbweaver
Category: Spider
Size (Adult; Length): 5mm to 10mm (0.19" to 0.39")
Colorwheel Graphic Colors: brown; black; tan; gray; orange
Descriptors: biting; venomous; black and white legs; barb; arrow


Relative Size Comparison


Typical Size Between 5mm (0.2in) and 10mm (0.4in)
Lo: 5mm
Md: 7.5mm
Hi: 10mm

Territorial Map*


U.S., Canada, and Mexico
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Territory map graphic of the country of Mexico
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Alaska  
Hawaii  
Prince Edward Is.  
* MAP NOTES: The territorial heat map above showcases (in red) the states and territories of North America where the Labyrinthine Orb Weaver Spider may be found (but is not limited to). This sort of data is useful when attempting to see concentrations of particular species across the continent as well as revealing possible migratory patterns over a species' given lifespan. Some insects 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. States/Territories shown above are a general indicator of areas inhabited by the Labyrinthine Orb Weaver Spider. Insects generally go where they please, typically driven by diet, environmental changes, and / or mating habits.
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