Araneus ventricosus is a large from East Asia that spins its web at dusk and takes it down again by morning. It isn't found in the United States; in Japan it is often seen around houses, temples, and shrines.
Appearance
- Appearance
- Females are about 0.8–1.2 in (2–3 cm) long, males about 0.6–0.8 in (1.5–2 cm). Color varies from black-brown to reddish or grayish brown. The roughly triangular abdomen has a leaf-shaped pattern and pointed "shoulders" at the front.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Eaves of buildings
- Temple and shrine grounds
- Gardens and fields
- Range
- East Asia: the Russian Far East, Korea, Japan, China, and Taiwan. Not found in North America.
Behavior
- Diet
- Flying insects and other small arthropods caught in its web.
- Activity
- Nocturnal. It builds a large vertical orb web—sometimes over 3 ft (1 m) across—in the evening, sits at the hub overnight, and usually removes the web in the morning, though in Japan this varies by region.
Life cycle
- Nest
- Females attach their egg sacs to tree trunks or under eaves.
Cautions
- Cautions
- It may bite if handled, but its venom acts on invertebrate prey and shows no activity in vertebrates; it's not considered a danger to people.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
Culture and stories
- Culture and stories
- In 2019 scientists sequenced its genome, the first for its genus, to study the genes behind spider silk proteins.
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