Spinybacked Orbweaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis)

Report and Photograph Courtesy of Kathleen W., Houston, Texas, June 1, 2007

Kathleen Wrote:

Dear Mr. Cates-- I am sending you a picture of a spinybacked orbweaver that I hope you will find useful.  I took this photo on Sunday, the 27th of May, at about six in the evening, at a home near Briar Forest & Dairy Ashford in Houston, Texas.  The spider was sitting in the center of its web, which was located on some low branches of a magnolia tree, about six feet off the ground.    You have my permission to use this photo on your website, or in any other way you find useful.   Sincerely,   Kathleen W.

My Reply:

Kathleen---Beautiful photo!  I will try to put it on the Internet this weekend.  I'll bet you have other spiders around to photograph, too... hint, hint...I try to take advantage of a really good photographer when I find one---Jerry

Additional Notes

Kathleen's original photo was of sufficient resolution to allow it to be enlarged without losing detail.  The original photo shows why this spider is called an orbweaver.  An orb web is one that is built on a plane, with radiating scaffold strands on which are wound a spiral strand that originates at the center and extends to the outer edges of the web. Most orb webs are built on the vertical plane, to capture flying insects that travel horizontally through the air.

Another spinybacked orbweaver,  photographed by Lorraine E. in College Station, Texas in 2006, with the same coloration as Kathleen's specimen.  Elsewhere, this species often presents with a white or yellow colored abdomen sporting black or red spikes.  

It turned out that Kathleen did have other spider photos to share.  She sent them, and they are destined for the web, right away.  Many thanks to her for being a good, attentive, and proficient photographer.