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Neoscona

Neoscona, known as spotted orb-weavers and barn spiders, is a genus of orb-weaver spiders (Araneidae) with more than 100 described species. It was erected by Eugène Simon in 1895 to separate these from other araneids in the now obsolete genus Epeira.

Name

The name Neoscona was derived from the Greek , meaning "spin", and , meaning "reed".

Distribution

They have a mostly pantropical distribution and one species, Neoscona adianta, has a palearctic distribution.

Only eight of the more than 100 species can be found in North America.

Description

Neoscona species are among the most common spiders in North America and are found throughout most parts of the world.

There are large variations in the dorsal patterns and coloration of the abdomen, even in a single species. Most have a light color with wavy edges along the mid-line, and darker swirls either side of that. Ventral abdominal patterns may consist of a dark area bordered by white, roughly forming a square. In adults the pattern can be faded. The venter of the abdomen is dark bordered on the sides by white spots.

Neoscona can be difficult to distinguish from species of Araneus without close examination of the carapace. Neoscona have a characteristic dorsal groove on the carapace that is parallel with the long axis of the body. The dorsal grooves of Araneus are transverse or angular, though they are sometimes so small that they appear as dimples on the dorsal surface.

The leg formula of Neoscona is 1243: the first are the longest, the second are second longest and the third are the shortest. The largest eyes are the anterior medians, next or subequal are posterior medians and the secondary eyes are slightly smaller.

The webs are usually vertical with about twenty radii and an open hub at the centre. Some species have been recorded as retreating to a leaf during the day.

Diversity

Species

, this genus includes 112 species and eleven subspecies:

References

External links