Fierce Orbweaver

(Araneus saevus)

Araneus saevus is a northern species found from Canada into the northern United States. It is often confused with other large, dark orbweavers such as A. nordmanni.

Description

A. saevus is a large dark-brown to black species with conspicuous dorsal humps on the lateral anterior abdomen. The humps may be lighter in color than the other areas. The abdomen is generally very dark brown and has a dorsal black folium. Between the abdominal humps there is a stripe of white or cream of varying length/width depending on the specimen at hand. The underside of the abdomen has two white spots located opposite each other. Females are 11 to 21 millimeters long, and males are 9 to 14 millimeters in length and darker than females.

Life History/Behavior

Little information is available on the life history of this species, but it undoubtedly overwinters in the egg stage with adults found from mid-summer to mid-autumn. Most often found in forested locations on a variety of trees, it can also be seen in suburbia that is landscaped with mature plantings.

Medical Importance

Most orbweavers either scurry to a silken retreat or drop to the ground when disturbed. There is one recorded, verified case of the fierce orbweaver bite causing pain, swelling, fever, and numbness.

References

Baerg, W. J. 1936. The Black Widow. Ark. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bul. 325. 34 pp.

Baerg, W. J. 1959. The Black Widow and Five Other Venomous Spiders in the United States. Ark. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bul. 608. 43 pp.

Bradley, R. A. 2013. Common Spiders of North America. University of California Press. 271 pp.

Breene, R. G., et al. 2003. Common Names of Arachnids. 5th ed. The American Arachnological Society Committee on Common Names of Arachnids. 42 pp.

Gertsch, W. J., and F. Ennik. 1983. "The spider genus Loxosceles in North America, Central America, and the West Indies (Araneae, Loxoscelidae)." Bul Amer Mus. Nat. Hist. 175: 24-360.

Herms, W. B., and M. T. James. 1961. Medical Entomology. 5th ed. The MacMillan Company, New York. 616 pp.

Howell, W. M., and R. L. Jenkins. 2004. Spiders of the Eastern United States: A Photographic Guide. Pearson Education. 363 pp.

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Kaston, B. J. 1948. "Spiders of Connecticut." Conn. State Geol. Nat. Hist. Survey. Bull. 70. 874 pp.

Kaston, B. J. 1972. How to Know the Spiders. 3rd ed. Wm. C. Brown Company, Dubuque, Iowa. 272 pp.

Levi, H. W. 1959. "The Spider Genus Latrodectus (Araneae, Theridiidae)." Trans. Amer. Microscopical Soc. 78(1): 7-43.

Long, D., R. Snetsinger, and K. F. Helm. 1995. "Localized Pruritic Rash Due to Recurrent Spider Bites." J. Geriatr. Dermatol. 3(6): 186-190.

McKeown, N., R. S. Vetter, and R. G. Hendrickson. 2014. "Verified spider bites in Oregon (USA) with the intent to assess hobo spider venom toxicity." Toxicon 84: 51-55.

Ubick, D., P. Paquin, P. E. Cushing, and V. Roth, eds. 2005. Spiders of North America: An Identification Manual. American Arachnological Society. 377 pp.

Vetter, R. S., and P. Kirk Visscher. 1998. "Bites and Stings of Medically Important Venomous Arthropods." International. J. Derm. 37: 481-496.

Vetter, R. S., et al. 2006. "Verified Bites By Yellow Sac Spiders (Genus Cheiracanthium) in the United States and Australia: Where Is the Necrosis?" Amer. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 74(6): 1,043-1,048.

Vetter, R. S., and G.K. Isbister. 2008. "Medical aspects of spider bites." Annu. Rev. Entomol. 53: 409-429.

Authored by: Steve Jacobs, Sr. Extension Associate

February 2015