Commonly known as the cross spider or yellow garden spider, Araneus diadematus is a member of the orb-weaver family known for creating spectacular webs. Garden spiders are native to North America, but they have recently spread throughout the United States and other places in the world.
Many people believe that garden spiders are dangerous because of their large size and distinct markings. But on the contrary, these spiders are docile, harmless, and will only bite humans if they feel threatened or are somehow trapped against you; for example, if you were to accidentally sit on them. Like most other species, the female garden spider is larger than the male. Both male and female garden spiders make beautiful zigzag-shaped webs with a distinctive structure at the center referred to as “stabilimentum.” Keep reading to understand more about garden spiders.
The first distinctive element about garden spiders is how they weave large, intricate webs. Another is their distinctive yellow and black bands on their abdomen. Other unique features include:
Color: They can be black and yellow, or red and black.
Size: Male garden spiders are smaller than the females. Males range from 0.20 to 0.35 inches, while females measure from 0.75 to 1.1 inches long.
Bodily features: Like all arachnids, garden spiders have eight legs, but what sets them apart from other spiders is that their legs are orange at the base with black stripes along the rest of the leg. They also come with fangs near their mouth to inject prey with venom.
Habitat: Garden spiders place their webs in protected areas sheltered from rain and heavy winds. You’re likely to find them in tall plants, between shrubs and bushes, under eaves, and on porches, especially if they are covered.
Diet: Garden spiders are carnivores and eat insects such as wasps, aphids, grasshoppers, and mosquitos. They can also eat larger prey if it becomes trapped in their web, such as small lizards.
Since these spiders are almost always found outdoors, they don’t interact with humans that much. They are not aggressive or invasive at all and are very content spending their days creating webs and waiting for prey. However, if mishandled or pressed against your skin, garden spiders can inflict bites that will itch for a few minutes and then stop. Most all bites have no further ill effects, but some people may be allergic to their venom. It should be noted this is fairly rare, but you should always seek medical attention if your symptoms become severe.
Since garden spiders eat a lot of nuisance pests like aphids, mosquitoes and wasps, most people find that they are a very beneficial and beautiful spider to have around. However, they can become a problem if they invade your property in large numbers. There are a few things you can do to help prevent and control garden spiders around your home, such as keeping shrubs and trees pruned, keeping the grass short and flower beds clean, and sweeping down any spider webs you see. If you want to get rid of garden spiders entirely from your property, you’ll need regular pest control from a qualified technician. Give Domain Pest Control a call for a quote on preventative pest control today!
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