![]() ![]() Aculepeira packardi, a large orbweaver found in eastern Colorado. The latter also include species that are large bodied and often rest during the day in the center of the web, similar to the banded garden spider.įigure 4. Among the more commonly encountered are spiders in the genera Araneus, Neoscona and Aculepeira. Related Species: Many orb-weaver spiders (Araneidae family) occur in Colorado and make their characteristic patterned webs amongst vegetation. Freezing temperatures kill off all remaining spiders at the end of the season and they have a one year life cycle. Mating occurs in the latter half of the summer and females produce egg sacs, which have a general shape of a kettle drum. The males wander while the females remain within a web. Webs are torn down and reconstructed frequently during their development.Īdult males begin to appear in late July and females shortly afterwards. Often prey are swathed and bundled with silk to be later eaten (Figure 3). Prey items are captured by snaring them in sticky webs then paralyzing them with venom injected through the fangs. Upon hatch in spring the spiderlings disperse, often by ballooning with wind currents. The overwintering stage is the eggs, which are protected within an egg sac attached to vegetation. Unlike many orbweaver spiders, they do not make a retreat along the edge of the web. The banded argiope is a day active hunter and can usually be observed resting in the center of the web, although they may drop readily when disturbed. ![]() The web is sticky and strong, capable of holding fairly large and active insects such as wasps and grasshoppers. Life History and Habits: The banded argiope is an orbweaver spider that produces its large concentrically patterned web in areas of tall grass and shrubby vegetation. The legs are dark yellowish-brown with darker rings.ĭistribution in Colorado: Statewide, except at highest elevations Numerous dark lines cross the body and yellow banding is usually present as well. The back of the spider is covered with silvery setae. Adult males also have prominently enlarged pedipalps projecting from the side of the head and these are used in sperm transfer. Males are substantially smaller, with a body length of only about 1/3 that of the female. Mature females may be 13-14.5 mm when fully extended and the carapace of the body typically between 5-6.5 mm in length. Identification and Descriptive Features: The banded garden spider (Figure 1 and 2) is a large species, with a generally ovoid form and bright markings. ![]()
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