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100 Species #94: Cross Orbweaver
This cross orbweaver Araneus diadematus sits in the center of her web under the eave of the shed, on the side by the dog waste composter.
It was only a week or so that I was lamenting the lack of large orbweaver spiders from our yard. Suddenly this beauty showed up! Alexis attempted to photograph it, and it scuttled to a hiding place under the eave. I had better luck sneaking up on the spider, and noticed the large cross-like mark on the abdomen. In an unexpected turn, this creature is actually named for its most obvious field marking. So often you'll find--for instance--a large black spider with green fangs and a mask-like face on its back--and it'll have a stupid common name like "bold jumping spider." I was lucky that this cross orbweaver actually had the cross on her abdomen--this marking is variable and sometimes completely missing. In England, this spider is very common, and is simply called "garden spider," a name we reserve for a different orbweaver. Araneus diadematus is thought to be native to Europe, but is found throughout the northern hemisphere. The female pictured here is about 3/4 of an inch from spinneret to chelicerae.
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