Search Results - Field Guide

Showing 1 - 10 of 20 results
Photo of a common house spider, egg sac, and web
Common House Spider
Parasteatoda tepidariorum (syn. Achaeranea tepidariorum)
You probably have at least a few common house spiders in your garage. Take heart: they are harmless and they eat many pest insects.
Photo of a green crab spider on a leaf
Green Crab Spider
Misumessus oblongus (formerly Misumenops oblonga)
The green crab spider has spines, and the entire body and legs are pale green to silvery white. Like other crab spiders, its legs extend outward from the sides, and it can walk in any direction.
Photo of a Xysticus crab spider, tan individual
Ground Crab Spiders
Xysticus spp.
Missouri has several species of ground crab spiders in the genus Xysticus. They are usually dull gray or brown with brown, white, or yellow markings. They typically live under bark or on the ground in leaf litter.
filmy dome spider
Filmy Dome Spider
Neriene radiata (formerly Prolinyphia marginata)
The filmy dome spider is one of the most abundant woodland spiders in Missouri. Although the spider is tiny, its snare web, which looks like an upside-down silk bowl, is conspicuous throughout the year.
Photo of a swift crab spider, female, from above.
Foliage Flower Spiders
Mecaphesa spp. and Misumessus spp.
Foliage flower spiders are two genera of crab spiders. They are generally smaller than other crab spiders, and their carapaces, abdomens, and legs are spiny.
Photo of a northern crab spider
Northern Crab Spider
Mecaphesa asperata
The northern crab spider has many spiny hairs covering the top surfaces of the carapace, abdomen, and legs, and it has usually has greenish-yellow or yellow-brown markings.
Photo of a swift crab spider, female, from above.
Swift Crab Spider
Mecaphesa celer (formerly Misumenops celer)
The swift crab spider has many spiny hairs covering the top of its body and legs, and it often has a light pinkish-tan cast.
Marbled orbweaver spider in web
Marbled Orbweaver
Araneus marmoreus
The marbled orbweaver is sometimes called the “pumpkin spider” because its rounded abdomen is sometimes bright orange. The color and markings can vary greatly.
Marbled orbweaver spider in web
Angulate and Roundshouldered Orbweavers
Araneus spp.
Missouri's Araneus spiders, called angulate and roundshouldered orbweavers, can be hard to identify to species. Most have camouflage patterns, and they all make characteristic, delicate, wheel-shaped webs to catch prey.
Photo of a trashline orbweaver, closeup
Trashline Orbweavers
Cyclosa conica and C. turbinata
Trashline orbweavers decorate their small, circular webs with an unimpressive line of insect husks and other debris. The small orbweaver rests at the hub within this line of garbage, looking like just another bit of trash.