Volume 52, Number 2, September 2005:
Checklist of Kansas Orbweaving Spiders

Text-only version

ISSUE HOME PAGE

ABOUT THIS ISSUE
- about KSN
- about the author

IN THIS ISSUE
- introduction
- 1-6
- 7-16
- the orb web, prey, and economic importance
- 17-22
- 23-28
- predators, parasites and spider defenses
- Kansas orb weavers
- argiopidae
- tetragnathidae
- references
- acknowledgements

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Checklist of Kansas Orbweaving Spiders
by Hank Guarisco

KANSAS ORB WEAVERS (ARGIOPIDAE & TETRAGNATHIDAE)
A total of 63 species of orbweaving spiders are currently known in Kansas. The following checklists are based upon specimens examined by the author, and Kansas records in the latest taxonomic revisions. Because of the recent advances in spider taxonomy, some records in the older literature are unreliable and are not included. Each entry includes: the currently recognized scientific name of each species followed by its author, year it was described, and sometimes one or more outdated names used in the older literature (45). Habitat information concerning Kansas specimens is included when available. Except for a few conspicuous species, most spiders do not have common names. The "black and yellow garden spider" (Argiope aurantia), the "common starbellied orbweaver" (Acanthepeira stellata), and the "marbled orbweaver" (Araneus marmoreus) are three exceptions. Because more field work is needed to determine the range of each species within Kansas, the counties of known occurrence do not accurately reflect a species range, but documents its occurrence within the state.

A key is not provided because positive identification is determined by detailed microscopic examination of the genitalia. However, orbweavers come in such a wide range of shapes and colors, many species may be identified by careful examination of the accompanying color photos. Pay particular attention to body shape, leg length, color and patterns. Although males and females of some species are similar, males of many orbweavers are much smaller than their mates, and may even radically differ in body color and form. Also be aware that coloration may be very variable in some species. Females of Neoscona crucifera, for example, may be dark with a distinct abdominal pattern, or very light and lack a pattern. The taxonomic references provide complete descriptions and distinguishing characteristics for each species in this checklist. Also of value are spider catalogues (45), checklists (11, 12, 19), and works which provide detailed keys (40, 46). All photos were taken by the author.

The records of Cyclosa caroli (Hentz) and Araneus saevus (L. Koch) (reported as A. solitarius) in Douglas County (11) were actually based upon misidentified specimens of Cyclosa conica (Pallas) and Araneus bicentenarius (McCook), respectively.