Fauna
Arachnid · GBIF taxon 2159209

Grey Cross Spider

Larinioides sclopetarius

Also known as Bridge Spider, Gray Cross Spider, Bridge Orb Weaver

Grey cross spiders are nocturnal orb-weavers that thrive along aquatic edge habitats and human infrastructure such as bridges, piers, and lit waterfront buildings. Every evening, they construct large wheel-like webs directly over water to capture emerging aquatic insects lured by artificial lights. During the day, they retreat into steel crevices or wooden cracks while holding a single signal line connected to their webs.

NocturnalWeb-BuildingUrban Wildlife
Grey Cross Spider reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Benedikt, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Midges
  • Mayflies
  • Moths
Predators
  • Mud dauber wasps
  • Insectivorous birds
  • Jumping spiders
ThreatsPesticide runoff, water pollution reducing insect prey, intense cleaning of infrastructure
HabitatsBridges, docks, wooden piers, lit outdoor structures, riverbanks
Life span1–2 years
Classification
  1. OrderAraneae
  2. FamilyAraneidae
  3. GenusLarinioides
  4. SpeciesLarinioides sclopetarius
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
Harmless to humans; safe to observe from a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Nighttime Spotting: Search around illuminated bridge railings and dock lights after dark when spiders sit on their webs.
  • Web Safety: Avoid breaking the main anchor threads that tether the orb web to surrounding structures.
  • Gentle Observation: Use a flashlight covered with a red filter to observe active hunting without startling the spider.
Related species
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