A widespread species, the barn spider commonly builds its webs in woods and on the eaves of barns, houses, and similar structures. It is one of the common members of Missouri's spotted orbweavers (in genus Neoscona). The different species can be difficult to distinguish. Neoscona species are spiny-legged spiders that all tend to have camouflage patterns, and they all make characteristic, delicate, wheel-shaped webs to catch prey.
As with most other spiders, it is the female that builds webs. Males are smaller and are rarely seen, unless they are visiting females. The female dismantles her web at dawn each morning by eating it. She hides in cracks and corners by day, and she spins a new large, round web at dusk. They often build webs near dusk-to-dawn lights, where they profit from the many flying insects the light attracts.
Learn more about this and other spotted orbweavers (genus Neoscona) on their group page.
Habitat and Conservation
These large orbweavers need tall objects such as trees, shrubs, and buildings to string their large, wheel-shaped webs between. People often notice them when they build their webs near homes and barns (hence the name barn spider). They come out in the evening and hunt at night. In the morning, these spiders seek shelter in corners and crevices.
Status
This species is sometimes called Hentz's orbweaver or Hentz orbweaver, because for a long time it was classified as Neoscona hentzii.
Life Cycle
Like most other spiders in Missouri, these small animals hatch from eggs early in the growing season and spend the summer growing. Those that survive long enough will have reached their maximum size by late summer and early fall. Females eat insects and create egg cases. As insect prey decreases in late summer, these spiders have less to eat. Cold weather makes them increasingly sluggish. The adults die when it freezes. The eggs overwinter.
Human Connections
Most people are not keen on having spiders around their homes, or of walking right into them on hiking trails. But remember that spiders do us a wonderful service of free, nontoxic pest control, all summer long and into the fall.
