Search Results - Field Guide

Showing 21 - 27 of 27 results
Photo of arrow-shaped micrathena spider
Arrowshaped Micrathena
Micrathena sagittata
One of three micrathena spiders in Missouri, the arrowshaped micrathena is small but unforgettable. Females have striking reddish, black, and yellow colors, and a pair of outward-pointing tubercles at the end of the body give it a triangular or "arrow" shape.
Photo of a Harvestman, viewed from above
Daddy Longlegs (Harvestmen)
About 6,500 species have been named so far, worldwide.
Daddy longlegs, or harvestmen, are familiar Missouri animals. They are not spiders, but opilionids. Unlike spiders, they have a fused body form and lack silk and venom glands.
Photo of female heptagonal orbweaver in web.
Heptagonal Orbweaver
Gea heptagon
The heptagonal orbweaver, Gea heptagon, builds its circular webs in vegetation only a few feet off the ground. When disturbed, it drops instantly to the ground below and turns a drab brown.
Photo of a female openfield orbweaver spider crouching on a plant stalk
Openfield Orbweaver
Araneus pratensis
The openfield orbweaver is a common nocturnal orb-weaving spider in Missouri.
Photo of female spiny-bellied orbweaver (spined micrathena) on a leaf
Spined Micrathena
Micrathena gracilis
The color pattern can vary, but the ten-spined, chunky abdomen sets the female spined micrathena apart from all other spiders.
Photo of a white micrathena spider in her web
White Micrathena
Micrathena mitrata
The white micrathena has 2 short pairs of tubercles and a white abdomen with a few distinct black blotches on the upper side. In an odd way, it looks like it's wearing a turban. This is one of three Missouri species of micrathenas, also called spiny orbweavers.
Red velvet mite eating a woolly aphid on a wooden handrail at Rock Bridge State Park, Boone County, Missouri
True Velvet Mites (Red Velvet Mites)
About 300 species globally
True velvet mites: You’ve probably seen these small, velvety, bright red mites creeping around on rocks, plant containers, tree trunks, or on the ground, especially after a rain. Be not afraid! They are harmless — to people.