Fauna
Arachnid

Giant Lichen Orbweaver

Araneus bicentenarius

Giant lichen orbweavers blend seamlessly against tree bark and foliose lichens thanks to intricate mottling of mossy green, pale grey, and black across their swollen abdomens. They spin massive, vertically oriented orb webs at dusk across woodland clearings and canopy gaps, taking them down each morning to avoid daytime detection. By day, individuals tuck their legs tightly against a lichen-encrusted branch or trunk retreat, remaining virtually invisible to both curious hikers and foraging birds.

NocturnalCamouflageWoodland
Giant Lichen Orbweaver reference1 / 7
(c) John P Friel, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by John P Friel · cc-by
—observations
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyMoths, Beetles, Cicadas
Predators
  • Songbirds
  • Mud dauber wasps
  • Tree frogs
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, pesticide runoff, and forest canopy clearance
HabitatsDeciduous and mixed forests, woodland edges, and shady riparian corridors
Life span1 year
Classification
  1. OrderAraneae
  2. FamilyAraneidae
  3. GenusAraneus
  4. SpeciesAraneus bicentenarius
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
Docile and harmless; bites are exceptionally rare and cause only minor local irritation.
Responsible observation
  • Flashlight search: Scan lichen-encrusted tree trunks at night with a headlamp to spot eye reflections and active webs.
  • Web courtesy: Duck beneath the sweeping support lines across woodland trails to avoid destroying hours of nocturnal construction.
  • Observation distance: Get close for photography without touching; sudden vibrations prompt them to drop into leaf litter.
Related species
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