#shamrock orbweaver

[onenicebugperday]

Well in lieu of the submission box could i ask if you know what kind of spider this is? Found in Alberta, Canada. Hes just a silly littol guy and i want to know whats up with that mushroom-looking thing on his back

That's her abdomen lol. She's very thicc so she's probably gravid. She's either a shamrock orbweaver or a marbled orbweaver. They're in the same genus (Araneus) and they both have so much variation between individuals that I sometimes struggle to tell them apart.

[platycryptus]

These are all pics of the same spider, a large female shamrock orbweaver (Araneus trifolium) that lives in a local field.

Back in August, her abdomen was pale yellow to blend in with the foliage. Now that the weather has cooled and the leaves she builds her web among are dying, she’s changed color and become reddish brown with white spots.

[coolbugs]

Bug of the Day - Arachtober!

A beautifully posed Shamrock Orbweaver (Araneus trifolium) from July 2017.

[onenicebugperday]

@his-accidency submitted: found in a bag of kale a farmer handed me in the interior of Alaska 😱

Oh wow this lady is very rotund, I love her. Stylish outfit as well. She's a shamrock orbweaver!

[platycryptus]

shamrock orbweaver (Araneus trifolium) preparing a beetle for dinner

[onenicebugperday]

Two orbweavers I've had the pleasure of finding. Second is a shamrock, but I still havent been able to find what the first is. Central NY

Wow! What excellent spider pals. That first one is BIG and I love her. My guess is a spotted orbweaver - they can be quie dark with orange-ish markings. Here’s an example of one similar to yours:

Photo by enri7

Thanks for sharing! :)

[onenicebugperday]

I woke up a gravid shamrock spider!

Oh! She was havin’ a nap. She’s very Round and I love her. Good luck to all of her future spiderlings!