Arachnid · GBIF taxon 2160521
Arrowhead Orbweaver
Verrucosa arenataAlso known as Triangle Orbweaver, Arrowhead Spider
Arrowhead orbweavers spin exceptionally resilient spiral webs suspended across forest clearings and hiking trails to snare passing insects. Females rest motionless at the web's hub with their heads oriented upward, an unusual posture among orbweavers that displays the bright, triangular abdomen resembling a fallen leaf or thorn. When an insect strikes the sticky threads, the spider rapidly reels in silk lines to immobilize its prey before wrapping it for storage.
Web WeaverForest DwellerCamouflaged
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Flies
- Moths
- Beetles
Predators
- Mud dauber wasps
- Forest songbirds
- Tree frogs
ThreatsBroad-spectrum pesticide applications and broadscale forest clearing
HabitatsDeciduous woodlands, forest edges, shrubby meadows, and shaded gardens
Life spanAbout 1 year
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyAraneidae
- SpeciesVerrucosa arenata
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Harmless to humans and safe to observe at a close distance.
Responsible observation
- Trail Spotting: Scan dappled woodland openings at eye level during late summer for webs suspended across paths.
- Web Etiquette: Walk with a light stick in front on overgrown trails to avoid inadvertently blundering into webs.
Ecological Peer (c) M. Whitson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Predator (c) Nathan Odgers, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Meghan Cassidy, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Meghan Cassidy · cc-by-sa
Image unavailableClose Relative
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.