Arachnid · GBIF taxon 2160216
Texas Orbweaver
Araneus illaudatusAlso known as Texas Orb-weaver
Texas orbweavers construct large, symmetrical wheel-shaped webs among oak branches and desert shrubs to capture nocturnal insects. These striking arachnids possess a broad abdomen with distinct subtle humps and a muted pattern of browns, tans, and greys that blends seamlessly with lichen-covered bark. Primarily active after dark, females frequently rebuild their delicate web lines each evening and retreat into leaf curled hides during the heat of the day.
NocturnalWeb SpinnerCamouflaged
Licensed referenceJoseph Berger, Bugwood.org; University of Georgia / CC BY 3.0 us · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Moths
- Flies
- Beetles
Predators
- Birds
- Lizards
- Spider wasps
ThreatsHabitat loss and pesticide spray
HabitatsOak-juniper woodlands, desert scrub, and rocky canyons
Life span1–2 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAraneae
- FamilyAraneidae
- GenusAraneus
- SpeciesAraneus illaudatus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskVery high
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is very high
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Night Spotting: Use a flashlight to search shrub foliage at dusk when females sit in web centers.
- Web Safety: Avoid breaking anchor threads anchored across trails or branches.
- Identification: Look for subtle humps on the upper corners of the wide abdomen.
Co-occurring Weaver no rights reserved, uploaded by Mirko Schoenitz · cc0
Close Relative (c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) hedera.baltica, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Family Relative (c) M. Whitson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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