Garden
Spider "Cross Spider"
Male 1/4- 1/2", female
1/4-3/4". Body brownish orange, legs darker because of brown encircling
bands. Abdomen above bears a median row of diamond-shaped silvery spots,
some smaller dots and dashes, and a series of short dark brown bands
City and suburban gardens
between houses and shrubs.
Boston, Massachusetts,
to the Great Lakes.
Flying and jumping insects.
Symmetrical orb within
5-or 6 sided frame; to 20" across.
Life Cycle
Spider usually rests head downward at center of web. Female attaches egg mass to a leaf, twig, or other support at side of web. Spiderlings usually stay in egg sac until 1st molt. One of the larger orb weavers, this spider was introduced from Europe. It eats the remains of the web made the previous night and spins a new web each night. The markings on the abdomen sometimes give the impression of a vertical white line crossed by a conspicuous dark line, inspiring the alternative name, "Cross Spider".