Cyclosa

(after Levi 1977): Cyclosa species differ from those of other Araneidae genera in the narrow head region of the carapace, often separated by shallow grooves from the thoracic region. The eyes are closely spaced, posterior median eyes almost touching. Cyclosa differs from Larinia, which also has the posterior median eyes close, in having banded legs, and in the shape and coloration of the abdomen. There are dorsal, paired, black or gray patches on white and a characteristic pair of ventral white spots surrounded and separated by a black band running from epigynum to spinnerets and posteriorly surrounding the spinnerets. The posterior dorsal end of the abdomen is extended beyond the spinnerets in the female and there may be shoulder humps or additional posterior humps. Cyclosa further differs from Araneus and Larinia in that the male palpal patella has only one macroseta.

The web is diurnal, its form diagnostic; lightly spun with few frame threads, it has a stabilimentum containing debris or a vertical row of egg-sacs through the center; the spider rests at the lower end or in a gap in the decoration and is often difficult to find.