Leucauge

Taxobox
name = "Leucauge"

---

image_caption = "L. venusta"
image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Arachnida
ordo = Araneae
subordo = Araneomorphae
familia = Tetragnathidae
genus = "Leucauge"
genus_authority = White, 1841
diversity_link = List of Tetragnathidae species#Leucauge
diversity = 170 species
range_

range_map_width = 250px
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "L. celebisiana"
"L. decorata"
"L. dromedaria"
"L. mabelae"
"L. nigrovittata"
"L. subblanda"
"L. subgemmea"
"L. tessellata"
"L. venusta"
"many more"

"Leucauge" is a spider genus with pantropical distribution.

The body and leg shapes and the silver, black and yellow markings of "Leucauge" females make identification of the genus relatively easy. They have two rows of long, slender curved hairs on the femurs of the fourth leg. In most cases the web is slanted rather than vertical and the spider rests in the middle of the web with its underside facing upwards.

"L. venusta" is also known as the "orchard orb weaver", "L. dromedaria" as the "silver or horizontal orb weaver".

Name

Greek "leukos" means "white".

References

* Riparian insects and the diet of the riparian spider "Leucauge celebisiana" (Araneae: Tetragnathidae). [http://www.hku.hk/science/ssrp/abstract/Lau%20Kin%20Fung.pdf PDF]

External links

* [http://www.usq.edu.au/spider/find/spiders/107.htm Picture of "L. dromedaria"]
* [http://www.nicksspiders.com/nicksspiders/leucaugemabelae.htm Pictures of "L. mabelae"]
* [http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/guidebooks/spiders/text/Leucauge_decorata.htm "Leucauge decorata" description and picture]
* [http://triatoma.blogspot.com/2006/03/green-anole-and-leucauge.html Picture of "Leucauge sp."] , about to be eaten by "Anolis carolinensis"