Fauna
Arachnid · GBIF taxon 2151568

Orchard Orbweaver

Leucauge venusta

Also known as Orchard Spider, Venusta Orchard Spider

Orchard orbweavers hang upside-down in the hub of low, horizontally tilted webs suspended among low vegetation and shrubs. Their striking metallic abdomens flash silver, bright emerald green, yellow, and vibrant orange spots under sunlight. These active daytime hunters quickly drop toward the ground on a dragline of silk when threatened by predators.

DiurnalOrb WeaverColorful
Orchard Orbweaver reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Katja Schulz · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Flies
  • Mosquitoes
  • Leafhoppers
Predators
  • Birds
  • Wasps
  • Jumping Spiders
ThreatsPesticide use, habitat destruction
HabitatsDeciduous woodlands, orchards, gardens, shrubby margins
Life span1 year
Classification
  1. OrderAraneae
  2. FamilyTetragnathidae
  3. GenusLeucauge
  4. SpeciesLeucauge venusta
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Web Spotting: Look for low-slung, horizontal webs tilted slightly near eye level in shady shrubs.
  • Sunlight Viewing: Observe under direct morning light to see the iridescent metallic belly spots.
  • Gently Approaching: Avoid touching web support lines, which causes the spider to drop into leaf litter.
Related species
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