Orb Weavers – Orb-web Spiders – Micrathena

Spiny Orb Weavers   Genus: Micrathena Common Name: Spiny orb-weavers Appearance: Genus Micrathena has more than 100 species, and they are called spiny orb weavers due to their spined bodies. Depending upon the species, the number of spines varies. They have brown, red, white, yellow colors with light markings. Male has a body length range from 3-5.9 mm, while the female is relatively bigger with a body length of 4.7-10.8 mm. They spin vertical orb-shaped webs and are diurnal. Host Plants or Food: Minute insects such as mosquitoes, flies, leafhoppers, Territory: Four species of this genus are found in  North America Mode of Damage: Spiny orb weavers are beneficial garden insects. They feed plant pests and act as natural biocontrol agents. Habits and Life History: Spiny orb-weavers are found in woodlands, yards, trees, bushes, or any other place where they find space to build their webs. Males do not spin webs, and males of some species lack spines. Males do not spin webs and are not seen as commonly as females do. Unlike other orb weavers, spiny orb weavers first bite their prey, insert venom into it and then wrap it into the web. After mating, the female builds an eggs sac over vegetation near her web in which she lays her eggs. As the winter approaches, the female dies while eggs overwinter. As the temperature rises and spring approaches, the eggs hatch into spiderlings, and then spiderlings mature into adult spiny orb weavers.