Araneus quadratus

Taxobox
name = Four Spot Orb Weaver

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image_width = 200px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Arachnida
ordo = Araneae
subordo = Araneomorphae
familia = Araneidae
genus = "Araneus"
species = "A. quadratus"
binomial = "Araneus quadratus"
binomial_authority = Clerck, 1757
synonyms ="Aranea reaumurii"
"Aranea quadrimaculata"
"Epeira quadrata"
"Aranea reaumuri"
"Araneus flavidus"

The four spot orb weaver ("Araneus quadratus") is a common orb weaver spider found in Europe and Asia. Females can reach 17 mm in length, especially when gravid, males approximately half that. They are quite variable in appearance, ranging from brown to bright orange or green, but they always have the characteristic four white spots on the abdomen. The darker color morphs are easiest to identify, due to the contrast between the white spots and the rest of the body. The legs are sometimes brightly striped.

The spider lives in gardens, wooded areas, or wherever there is vegetation to string an orb web across. This species builds its web close to the ground to catch jumping insects such as small grasshoppers. The female builds the more elaborate web, complete with a funnel-shaped retreat off to the side where she goes during inclement weather. The web is smaller and closer to the ground than those of other species of orb weaver.

Adult females can actively change their color. It takes about three days to take on colors that accurately match their resting surface.Oxford, G.S. & Gillespie, R.G. (1998). Evolution and Ecology of Spider Coloration. "Annual Review of Entomology" 43:619-643. DOI|10.1146/annurev.ento.43.1.619]

ubspecies

* "Araneus quadratus minimus" (Gétaz, 1889) (Switzerland, France)
* "Araneus quadratus subviridis" (Franganillo, 1913) (Spain)Platnick, N. I. (2006). [http://research.amnh.org/entomology/spiders/catalog/index.html The world spider catalog] , version 7.0. "American Museum of Natural History".]

References

External links

[http://www.eurospiders.com/Araneus_quadratus.htm Araneus quadratus]