Garden Spider
There are many different types of garden spider, most of the time these spiders are found in the lawn or garden but can also be found within the home as well. Garden spiders include the following: meshweb spiders, crab spiders, running crab spiders, wolf spiders, nursery web spiders, comb-footed spiders, stretch spiders, orb-web spiders, sheet web spiders, dwarf spiders, sac spiders, and buzzing spiders. Most all of garden spiders are orb weaving, which basically means that they are known for their orb looking webs.
The most prominent time for a garden spider is during the fall. The main difference between the variations of the garden spider mostly has to do with their appearance and there are in fact quite a few similarities.
Garden Spiders
The garden spiders weave large flat webs suspended between plants, across paths, along window and door frames. They are generally found outdoors, although they may find their way indoors as fall progresses to winter. Some garden spiders tend to prefer wooded and shrubby areas, while others prefer sunny areas around houses and tall grasses. The Garden spider is actually most noted for spinning webs.
There are many different types of garden spiders, as listed above, however two common species are the European garden spider and the Argiope garden spider. The European garden spider is recognized by its large tan and gray body with mottled tan or brown markings across the back, which is also highlighted by five or more large white dots forming a cross like shape. The Argiope usually is yellow or black with two rows of three white spots along its back. The Argiope also spins their web with a very unusual zigzag pattern in the center of it.
The Final Act!
The female garden spider will sometimes eat the male spider after mating, but not usually. Rather the male garden spiders will usually mate with several females, and then often die from starvation and exhaustion, since they spend little effort feeding while searching for females.
The garden spiders diet consists of whatever they can catch in their webs. The garden spider will eject poison into their prey and eat almost all of it, eventually sucking out the liquefied contents of their prey’s body. The Garden Spiders is not aggressive and they are not poisonous to humans. Because they are not aggressive spiders, it is rare that one would actually bite a human. In some circumstances if they feel threatened or if they are pressed up against human skin, in that rare occasion they might bite a human. Even though garden spiders are not poisonous it is still important to seek medical attention, just in case the species of the spider is not identifiable.
Written by Jim on June 15th, 2006 with
32 comments.
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I have a black and white garden spider…what is the best thing to feed them and should I keep the habitat at a certain temperature…I caught her 4 days ago…this morning when I woke up, she had laid her eggs and of course put the sack around them…any more information would be very helpful…thank you…Shawn
I have a black and yellow Argiope on my deck. I noticed a small brown spider close to her for the last few days. Is the brown spider the male version? Good article.
What kind of spiders live in new york? i think i got bit from one i have two little round holes. but not swelling or pain, so could that be a spider bit?
Note: Here is a line of gibberish if I ever heard one. Whoever posted this is trying to sell you on type of antidote and trying do it by inducing fear. It is posted just to demonstrate how people can take advantage of a situation such as this. Best advice, see a doctor and don’t be afraid to contact the doctor with any questions at all!
Here is the gibberish posted below:
Miss louis, you are extremely lucky is not likely this incident has happend, i must advise you to take medical assistance immediatley as their is small chance the poison of this spider has developed potent liquid into your bloodstream may take several hours. As you have already mentioned are obvious swelling of the markings of this spider, i suggest is prominent swelling, it is now been researched at our university colorado, the findings proven at each individual arachnid species will inject an amount poison preferable to the opposing enemy as such “you are the threat” therefore it is clear this type species has made the incision precisely in causing instant death or immminent as may take possibly few week or more, with the poison actively working its way to the heart in the blood, once is fully circulated around the body, i am sorry miss louis but you are in grave danger; i insist you seek an antidote immediatley.
please will you give me your contact details and i will have an antidote sent to you at once.
**URGENCY**
——— End of Jibbersh ————————
Don’t panic, simply consult a doctor but do not fall for some antidote given by someone other than your doctor.
I think I have been bit by a spider but I am not sure . Please send me a list of symptoms of the most common symtoms of spider bites
sincerly,
Barbra
Yes, the male Argiope is a lot smaller than the female, and mostly brown rather than black/white/yellow.
I have three puncture marks on the top of my foot, it is not ichy but painful when I walk, no other symptoms, a little swelling at first but now it is read around the puncture marks. I was in my garden with sandels on….will not do that again. This was four days ago. Would appreciate any comments.
We caught a female european garden spider and now feed it all the insects we can catch. What should we put in to make a good habbitat? The last garden spider we caught was male and we kept him for about a year.
I got bit by something in my backyard and it is very possible it is a spider bite. We have had multiple spiders this summer. I have never had anything like this before. I didn’t realize that I had a bite until I noticed a red area below my big toe and it itches all the time. I have had it for about a week and I have been putting cortisone creme on it but nothing seems to help. Has anyone else had this type of bite and might know what it is?
I have a purple and pinkish bite, But…. I dont know if its a spider bite. It has three holes in it and it is not causing and pain I have no Idea wat it is.
My mom has spiders in her house. How can I tell what kind of spider it is? It seems to be the same kind but I am not a spider expert. I am deathly afraid that it is a brown recluse spider and not a garden spider. I don’t want to run the risk of any of us getting bitten. Please help!
i have a yellow and black spider approx. 3 inches long. its web is about two feet in diameter with a zig zag pattern in the middle of the web. i was wondering what type of spider this is and is it poisonous? it sort of resembles a garden spider. it eats anything even a dragonfly. it also kills the male variety.
We have a small dog (peek-a-poo) who is about 14 years old. While walking her, I noticed she immediately jerked her paw back. She then began limping and was in severe pain. We were out of town and had to take her to a local vet. He thinks she was bitten by a crab back spider, which he said were common in the NC foothills.
After a week of prednisone and antibiotics, she recoverd. This was actually the 2nd time this happened in the same location. The 1st time she had to be rushed to an emergency vet as she was swelling quickly and again in severe pain. Thought other pet lovers would like to know about this. She was being walked in very short grass in the daylight!
Can anyone tell me what kind of spider is all black with white spots on just the body, could it be a garden spider?
I found an orb weaver that is similar in size and web structure to the common araenia genus. This species has a definite reddish cast to it’s coloration, however, rather than the common brown coloration. Is anyone familiar with this species?
Jessica,
Is the body shiny and round?
I have a garden spider that built a web several weeks ago while the weather was nice - now the temps are dropping. I wouldn’t want her in the house but I’m wondering what will happen to her. I’m in Ohio and it’s getting into the 40’s at night now. Does she hibernate or is she just going to die? She’s on a patio with no bushes - just cement - should I try to relocate her to a bush out front or just leave her alone for now? Thanks
We live in Florida, and this year found a beautiful garden spider off our fence. I watched her build her web, and she was a good eater until she mated. She seemed not to be feeding, except I think she ate her mate. Haven’t seen any babies.
It’s about a week since she mated, and today a medium-size shiny black wasp was harrassing the spider, and was stung. She is hanging on to her web by one leg. Is this normal behavior for wasps?
We also have another garden spider with a mate. We’re just hoping this one makes it.
I’ve spent all summer enjoying these ladies, and hope they keep visiting.
Can you define the wasp? Is that “normal” for them to kill like that?
Thank you
Jo
I have a mark right on my chest…it has what looks to be a puncture mark and it has a round white marking around it. Could this be a bite or am I being paranoid?? thanks so much!
Melissa
I noticed 3 small holes…talking tiny lil holes on my right arm about 2 days ago. Over the course of the next 2 nights the spot where I was bitten started itching..mostly during sleep.Then Today I noticed that I have 4 mosquito looking bites. The 2 on my arm and 1 under my eye are a little bigger than a dime. When you feel or push on them they feel hard. One is where I was bitten…one below the first area…one on the back of my hand and the other under my left eye. I assume it’s a spider bite. Should I go to the docotor or is there some over the counter medicine I can take?
Thanks
In the last week Ive found 2 red spiders in my basement,all red except what looks like abrown abdomen,would appreciate the help.
When I was about 10 years old, I was climbing a large oak tree in Florida, chasing a baby stork. At some time during the chase, a large spider bit me on my left wrist. The fang marks were almost the diameter of pencil lead and spaced more than 1/8 inch apart. I assumed it was a garden spider as they are very common in that part of Florida (Auburndale). The bite was directly on a large vein on the inside of the wrist.
When I finished chasing the stork and came down from the tree, I noticed the bite and a large welt on my wrist, extending from my hand to my elbow, on the inside. And it was beginning to itch.
By the time I was home, a large block away, I was itching all over my body and turning red. My mother, a nurse, tried calamine lotion, which did not help, of course. She described my behavior as acting like a mad dog. EVERYTHING itched!
She took me to the emergency room, but even before we got there the itching was beginning to lessen. After a shot of epinephrine I vomited, but felt much better and went home.
I never saw the spider, but based on the bite it had to be large, like the Orb Weavers and Garden Spiders that were so common there. I don’t know much about centipede bites, but I don’t believe it was one of those.
BTW, my cousin and I had caught the stork once, let him go, and were chasing him again when I was bitten. But as I approached the stork that second time, he turned his head sideways and struk me in the face with his sharp bill, grabbing my nose by the bridge and giving me a little shake! Imagine if he had kept his bill open and struck my eyes instead of grabbing the bridge of my nose. I have a lot more respect for wildlife now, and for spiders!
Ted
I’m not sure what bit me. I didn’t feel the bite. Perhaps it’s a garden spider?
I realized that night when taking a bath and saw 12 bite markings which were in a 3 dot triangle pattern set of 4 following in a backward c formation. The next day it was swollen and red all around it. So after about a week I went to the dr. which he then gave me an antibiotic. But still no clue to what insect may have bit me.
Could you please help?
Thanks Irene
i found black garden spider with red on it’s back..i would like to know what i can feed him/her..I’m old and lonely and this is the closest thing i have to a pet..any info would help very much thank you..
garden spiders are very cool
The first Golden Orb Spider I encountered was a giant black and yellow marked Argiope. I was chasing one of my mongrel dogs who had gotten off it’s leash when I saw something catch in the light… I was bent over climbing into a clearing of brush and I look off to the side and see the most beautiful massively huge spider web I had ever encountered in Kansas… Then as I stood up to marvel at the web.. I realize I am face to face with this HUGE spider!!! At the time I will admit that it frightened me very much!!! I screamed and fled in the opposite direction. The next day I returned to the same location and watched the spider for a very long time. I watched her mend her web, bask in the sunlight, and even feed. They truely are amazing creatures. Very tranqualizing and hypnotic. I do not have an arachniphobia by any means… I used to raise European King Scorpions and I had a couple tarantulas when I was younger… But when I saw a spider so large just “chillin in my back yard” it caught me off gaurd and nearly scared the life out of me.. Especially after a near face to face collision!! I found another one the day after on my front porch. They truely are magnificent beauties to marvel at.. Especially these particular types. Nonaggressive and nonvenomous.
Hi there, I’m from NC and I just found a huge female golden orb spider- a black & yellow agriope I believe. I just wanted to make sure they are not dangerous, I have 2 young children and will have my 2 pre-teen nephews over this week. I watched her for about 20 minutes today, and took many pictures of her. I’d like to try to feed her but I’m not sure what to throw in the web, we have a lot of beetles & junebugs?? As far as size goes she’s the biggest I’ve ever seen, about 3 inches in length and leg span of 5 inches. The coloring on her is mainly black with a yellow and white pattern on the top of the body, she seems to stay on the web with her head facing downwards. I’m a little scared of spiders after being bitten by a brown recluse almost 3 years ago which left me with a raspberry sized scar near my eye, so I just wanted to verify that this spider isn’t a danger to me or my family. I’ll be sending a picture in as she is quite beautiful!!!
Julie
y do these garden spiders shake thier webs??
i have one of these spiders BLACK & YELLOW with SPOTS in a Cage i just got it out of my Garden.. can you tell me if this spider can do okay in a 10 gal Fish Tank.. i love the way it looks ..
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my neighbor has a black and yellow spider on her porch and i was just wonderin if it was poisenouis