Spinybacked orbweaver (female)

Description:

Females are 5–9 mm long and 10–13 mm wide. The six abdominal spine-like projections on the abdomen are characteristic. The carapace, legs and underside are black with white spots under the abdomen. Variations occur in the colour of the upperside of the abdomen with black spots on white to yellow ground colour and red spines or yellow instead of white. Spines are sometimes black. Like in many other spiders, males are much smaller (2 to 3 mm long) and longer than wide. They are similar to the females in colour but have a gray abdomen with white spots and the spines are reduced to four or five stubby projections. It lives in woodland edges and shrubby gardens. They frequently live in trees or around trees in shrubs. This species of spider does not live very long. In fact, the lifespan only lasts until reproduction, which usually takes place the spring following the winter when they hatched. Females die after producing an egg mass, and males die six days after a complete cycle of sperm induction to the female.

Habitat:

Wakodahatchee wetlands FL

Notes:

I found my first of these guys a few days ago at Green Cay http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/112.... This one was much smaller at barely 5 mm across & one of several I spotted at Wakodahatchee.