Marbled Orbweaver

Araneus marmoreus — the marbled orbweaver — is one of the most-photographed orb-weaving spiders in North America and one of about 1,500 species in family Araneidae (the orb-weaving spiders). The species is widespread across all of North America from southern Canada south through the eastern and central US, and across Europe (the species is Holarctic — present across the temperate northern hemisphere). Females are 14-19 mm body length (about the size of a small grape) and dramatically larger than males (5-9 mm). The species' diagnostic feature is the ABDOMEN COLORATION: females have a large bright ORANGE-AND-BROWN MARBLED ABDOMEN with dark markings that resemble the carved face of a small pumpkin (the species is sometimes called the 'PUMPKIN SPIDER' for the resemblance). The marbled abdomen pattern is highly variable across individuals — some marbled orbweavers have predominantly orange abdomens, others predominantly brown, and most have intricate marbled mixes. The marbled-orbweaver's identifying coloration combined with the species' adult emergence in LATE SUMMER AND AUTUMN (when the spider becomes most conspicuous in suburban gardens) gives the species a strong visual association with autumn natural history in NA — the species is one of the most-photographed spiders in NA macro nature photography during September-October. Marbled orbweavers construct large VERTICAL ORB WEBS in tall vegetation — typical web architecture is 30-60 cm diameter, with the spider waiting head-down at the hub. The web is rebuilt each evening (the spider eats the old web in the morning and re-spins a fresh web at dusk) — a typical orbweaver behavior. Prey are small flying insects (flies, mosquitoes, moths, small bees) that fly into the web and are immediately wrapped in silk and consumed. The species is major beneficial garden predator. Females lay eggs in autumn in distinctive YELLOW-OR-CREAM SILK EGG SACS attached to the underside of vegetation; eggs overwinter and hatch in spring as tiny spiderlings. Adult females die in autumn after egg-laying (annual life cycle). Despite the dramatic 'pumpkin spider' appearance, marbled orbweavers are COMPLETELY HARMLESS TO HUMANS — no significant venom, no aggressive behavior, no medical concern. The species is one of the most popular subjects of suburban nature photography across NA in autumn.