Arachnid
Arrow-shaped Orbweaver
Micrathena sagittataAlso known as Arrow-shaped Micrathena, Arrowhead Spider
Females rest head-down at the center of a delicate vertical orb web spun across forest trail corridors and open understory clearings. Their vibrant, arrowhead-shaped abdomen bristles with defensive spines that deter insectivorous birds from gulping them mid-flight. Males are tiny, lack the prominent yellow abdominal horns of the females, and search understory vegetation for mature mates during mid-to-late summer.
Orb WeaverWoodlandSpiny
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyGnats, Small moths, Flies
Predators
- Insectivorous birds
- Spider wasps
- Dragonflies
ThreatsHabitat loss from clear-cutting and broad-spectrum pesticide spraying
HabitatsDeciduous forests, woodland edges, and overgrown brushy thickets
Life spanAbout 1 year
Classification
- OrderAraneae
- FamilyAraneidae
- GenusMicrathena
- SpeciesMicrathena sagittata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Trail Etiquette: Watch for webs stretched at eye level across woodland paths to avoid walking through them.
- Macro Photography: Approach slowly without vibrating surrounding twigs, as females drop quickly on a silk lifeline if startled.
Ecological Peer (c) M. Whitson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Ecological Peer no rights reserved, uploaded by Mirko Schoenitz · cc0
Close Relative (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Judy Gallagher · cc-by-sa
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