Crab-like Orbweaver, Spinybacked Orbweaver, Spiny Orbweaver Spider

Description:

The spiny orb weaving spiders look like plant seeds or thorns hanging in their webs and are easily distinguished from other spiders. The male is smaller (1/16"-1/8") than the female (3/8") and seldom noticed. Spiny orb weavers have a broad, hard abdomen that can be white, orange, or yellow with red markings. There are six pointy “spines” protruding from the edges. The carapace, legs, and venter are black.

Habitat:

East Texas piney woods. Hanging between the railing of the second story and a tree, we used a white sheet to focus the camera.

Notes:

The spiny orb weaver spins flat, round shaped webs in shrubs, trees, and in the corners of windows and similar outdoor areas of buildings. A new web is constructed each night to make sure that the structure is secure. Typically, adult females construct webs because male species hang from a single thread close by the nest of a female.