Login
Login

Neoscona

{{Short description|Genus of spiders}}

{{Automatic taxobox

|image=Neoscona adianta 1.jpg

|image_caption=Neoscona adianta in Belgium

|taxon=Neoscona

|authority=E. Simon, 1864{{citation |title=Gen. Neoscona Simon, 1864 |website=World Spider Catalog Version 16.5 |url=http://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/genusdetail/365 |access-date=2015-09-18}}

|type_species=N. arabesca

|type_species_authority=(Walckenaer, 1841)

|subdivision_ranks=Species

|subdivision=123, see text

|synonyms=

  • Afraranea Archer, 1951{{cite journal|last=Grasshoff|first=M.|year=1986|title=Die Radnetzspinnen-Gattung Neoscona in Afrika (Arachnida: Araneae)|journal=Annalen Zoologische Wetenschappen|volume=250|page=4}}
  • Chinestela Chamberlin, 1924{{cite journal|last=Archer|first=A. F.|year=1958|title=Studies in the orbweaving spiders (Argiopidae). 4|journal=American Museum Novitates|issue=1922|page=17}}
  • Cubanella Franganillo, 1926{{cite journal|last1=Berman|first1=J. D.|last2=Levi|first2=H. W.|year=1971|title=The orb weaver genus Neoscona in North America (Araneae: Araneidae)|journal=Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology|volume=141|page=469}}{{cite journal|last=Bryant|first=E. B.|year=1940|title=Cuban spiders in the Museum of Comparative Zoology|journal=Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology|volume=86|page=511}}

|synonyms_ref=

}}

Neoscona, known as spotted orb-weavers and barn spiders,{{cite web|title=Genus Neoscona|publisher=BugGuide|access-date=2019-05-14|url=https://bugguide.net/node/view/1991}} is a genus of orb-weaver spiders (Araneidae) first described by Eugène Simon in 1895 to separate these from other araneids in the now obsolete genus Epeira. The name Neoscona was derived from the Greek {{lang|grc|νέω}}, meaning "spin", and {{lang|grc|σχοῖνος}}, meaning "reed".{{cite book|last=Simon|first=E|year=1895|title=Histoire naturelle des araignées|publisher=Paris, Librairie encyclopédique de Roret|doi=10.5962/bhl.title.51973|url=https://archive.org/stream/histoirenaturell00sim#page/261/mode/1up}} They have a mostly pantropical distribution and one species, Neoscona adianta, has a palearctic distribution. The genus has more than 100 species (see below), eight of which can be found in the United States and Canada as of April 2019.

Description

Neoscona species are among the most common spiders in North America and are found throughout most parts of the world.{{cite book|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4753653#page/500/mode/1up|title=The orb weaver genus Neoscona in North America (Araneae:Araneidae) |last1=Bergman |first1=J.D. |last2=Levi |first2=H.W. |date=1971|via=Biodiversity Heritage Library|volume=141 |publisher=Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College|access-date=2020-04-14}} There are large variations in the dorsal patterns and coloration of the abdomen, even in a single species. Most have a light color with wavy edges along the mid-line, and darker swirls either side of that. Ventral abdominal patterns may consist of a dark area bordered by white, roughly forming a square. In adults the pattern can be faded. The venter of the abdomen is dark bordered on the sides by white spots.

Neoscona can be difficult to distinguish from species of Araneus without close examination of the carapace. Neoscona have a characteristic dorsal groove on the carapace that is parallel with the long axis of the body. The dorsal grooves of Araneus are transverse or angular, though they are sometimes so small that they appear as dimples on the dorsal surface. With the leg arrangement, the first are the longest, the second are second longest and the third are the shortest. The largest eyes are the anterior medians, next or subequal are posterior medians and the secondary eyes are slightly smaller. The webs are usually vertical with about twenty radii and an open hub at the centre. Some species have been recorded as retreating to a leaf during the day.

Species

{{as of|2019|04}} there are 123 species worldwide:{{cite web|title=Gen. Neoscona Simon, 1864|website=World Spider Catalog|access-date=2019-05-14|publisher=Natural History Museum Bern|url=http://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/genus/365}}

{{Columns-list|colwidth=35em|

}}

Gallery

File: Neoscona arabesca P1300817b.jpg |Neoscona arabesca Oklahoma, USA

File: Neoscona crucifera, Meadowood Farm SRMA, Mason Neck, Virginia.jpg |Neoscona crucifera with prey Virginia, USA

File: Red-femurred Spotted Orbweaver - Neoscona domiciliorum, Leesylvania State Park, Woodbridge, Virginia.jpg |Neoscona domiciliorum Virginia, USA

File:NeoscanaOaxacensisLagunaBeach1.JPG|Neoscona oaxacensis California, USA

Neoscona theisi 1392.jpg|Neoscona theisi Queensland, Australia

Neoscona theisi (ventral) 4146.jpg|Neoscona theisi female ventral, Queensland, Australia

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Commons|Neoscona}}

  • [https://bugguide.net/node/view/497529 Comparison of larger male orb-weavers of the United States and Canada] at BugGuide
  • [http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/spiders/neoscona.htm N. crucifera and N. domiciliorum] by the University of Florida

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1933421}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Araneidae genera

Category:Cosmopolitan spiders

Category:Taxa named by Eugène Simon