Orb-weaving Spiders

Abba can be diagnosed by the set of strong prolateral macrosetae on the first tibia of the males and by the distinct colouration of the abdomen in both the males and females, consisting of a pair of dark spots centrally on a uniformly creamy-white to grey dorsal surface.

Anepsion are distinctive small orb-weaving spiders with a raised head region and a generally somewhat flattened, oval or rhomboid abdomen with distinct colour patterns generally of dark spots on a light surface.

Females of Arachnura have a highly elongated abdomen with the spinnerets situated about half-way ventrally. Males are much smaller than females and their abdomen appears posteriorly squashed

Orb-weaving spiders in the genus Argiope typically have a procurved posterior eye row, i.e. the lateral eyes are situated in front of the median eyes

Austracantha differs from Gasteracantha by the lack of a genital tubercle (a sclerotised knob between epigyne and spinnerets) and the lack of a strong sclerotised ring around the spinnerets

Males of the genus Backobourkia are readily distinguished from other orb-weaving spider genera by the presence of an apically directed flange of the median apophysis in the male pedipalp. The abdomen in both sexes has strong setae and somwhat triangular patches anteriorly.

Bijoaraneus are easily identified by its characteristic black mark on the back of the abdomen.

Females with cephalic humps and epigyne with wide lateral lobes, scape elevated with enlarged basis, and posterior plate with ‘transverse slits or baso-lateral flaps..Males with a series of macrosetae on tibia II, including two highly modified and enlarged mega-spurs, and pedipalp with median apophysis elongated and strongly curved and terminal apophysis with elongated basal prong.

Species of Celaenia are very distinct, with a constricted cephalic region. Males are much smaller than females and the constriction of the carapace is often less pronounced.

Courtaraneus is a large and distinct genus of orb-weaving spider currently only known from New Zealand. It has a unique genital morphology, specifically in relation to the male pedipalp that has two unique, heavily sclerotised apophyses on the tibia.

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 posterior dorsal end of the abdomen is extended beyond the spinnerets in the female and there may be shoulder humps or additional posterior humps.

Cyrtobill males differ from Cyrtophora by the presence of a unique and prominent semicircular rim at the base of the cymbium of the pedipalp which creates a basal concavity on the cymbium. Females differ in the presence of a distinct spoon-shaped scape with pocket at its tip and wrinkled epigynal plate.

Cyrtophora differs from Argiope, Gea and Mecynogea by a recurved or straight posterior eye row, Males are small compared to females with a thin median apophysis. The epigyne of the female is characteristic with a broad, wavy scape.

Larinia can mainly be confused with Lariniophora, but male Larinia have two spines on the pedipalp patella, whereas Lariniophora has only one. The epigyne of female Larinia generally has a scape (often broken off), but not so in Lariniophora.

Resemble Cyrtarachne due to the triangular, shiny abdomen, but no extreme sexual size dimorphism.

Nemoscolus have a ventrally protruding epigyne in females and a compact pedipalp in males in which the embolus points apically. The spiders include a stone-made retreat into their web.

Differs distinctly in genitalic morphology from Deliochus, Phonognatha and Artiphex.

Small to median-sized (body length 1.2–13.3 mm) orb-weaving spiders with elongated abdomen; unique ventral pattern on the abdominal venter, i.e. a light inverted U-shaped pattern and two additional light spots anterolateral to the spinnerets.