Tropical orbweaver, Eriophora ravilla
(Araneae: Araneidae)

The female of this species is usually white to almost black in color with reddish brown legs and anterior body region. The male of this species is smaller, and its abdomen is much smaller in size and usually dark gray in color. The male has banded legs. Typically, this species has an anterior body region that is reddish-brown with white colored hairs. In young spiders, the top of the abdomen may have a pattern of white spots, a narrow central white stripe, or the body may be radiant green in color.

During the day, these spiders usually hide in partially rolled up leaves, and at night remain suspended head down on the web. They prefer to make their webs in tree canopies, and are found in open woodland habitats. Its range is largely circum-Caribbean, occurring in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas along the Gulf Coast of the United States; Mexico; Central America; the Greater and Lesser Antilles; Bahamas; and Colombia and Venezuela in northern South America.

This species feeds on various insects and other small arthropods.

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Adult tropical orbweaver, Eriophora ravilla.
(Photographer: Lyle Buss, University of Florida)

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