Fauna
Arachnid

Spinybacked Orbweaver

Gasteracantha cancriformis

Also known as Spiny Crab Spider, Crablike Spiny Orbweaver, Jewel Box Spider

Spinybacked orbweavers feature a hard, crab-like abdomen studded with six prominent red or black spines and marked with contrasting white or yellow patterns. Females weave dense, vertical orb webs decorated with conspicuous tufts of white silk along the frame to catch flying insects and warn birds away. These beneficial predators sit upside down at the web center, helping control pest populations across gardens, citrus groves, and forest edges.

ArachnidColorfulWeb-Building
Spinybacked Orbweaver reference1 / 7
(c) Meghan Cassidy, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Meghan Cassidy · cc-by-sa
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyMosquitoes, Flies, Small beetles
Predators
  • Mud dauber wasps
  • Birds
  • Lizards
ThreatsPesticide spraying, habitat destruction
HabitatsWoodland edges, shrublands, gardens, citrus groves
Life span1 year
Classification
  1. OrderAraneae
  2. FamilyAraneidae
  3. GenusGasteracantha
  4. SpeciesGasteracantha cancriformis
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 small, vertical orb webs strung between low tree branches and garden shrubs.
  • White Silk Tufts: Check for distinct white silk tufts along the web frame that alert larger animals to avoid crashing into it.
  • Gentle Observation: Maintain a respectful distance to avoid disturbing the fragile web anchor lines.
Related species
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