My first B&B guest was a Hentz Orb Weaver

Honestly, I had no idea what a Hentz Orb Weaver was until I saw one spinning a web on my back porch. At first, it didn’t seem to care that I was watching. Spiders really freak me out, and if this one had jumped on me, you’d probably still hear me screaming! 

It took me a while to gather my gear because I needed good lighting to photograph her. I set up my main light and tripod, but she stayed unfazed. The next part was tricky—I had to reach through her web to place a remote backlight. She didn’t like that and curled up into a ball for about 30 minutes. I turned off the outdoor lights and decided to wait.

Half an hour later, she was back to work. I grabbed my camera and used the live view on the LCD screen to focus, since I didn’t want to get too close. Wearing glasses made it hard to hold the camera and focus at the same time, but I managed to take about 60 shots. Only five turned out, and this one was the best.

She came back the next night, but I haven’t seen her since.

The Hentz Orb Weaver (Neoscona crucifera) is a common spider species found throughout North America, especially in the eastern United States. Belonging to the family Araneidae, these spiders are known for their intricate, circular webs—hence the name "orb weaver." They are typically found in gardens, forests, and even on porches or other human-made structures, where they build their webs to capture flying insects.

Physical Appearance

Hentz Orb Weavers are medium-sized spiders, with females being slightly larger than males. The female's body length can range from 7 to 14 mm, while males are usually around 5 to 9 mm. Their bodies are generally a reddish-brown color with darker markings, and they often have a distinct zigzag or “herringbone” pattern on their abdomen. Their legs are banded, alternating between darker and lighter sections, and are covered in fine hairs that help them navigate their web and sense nearby prey.

One striking feature of the Hentz Orb Weaver is its ability to change color slightly based on its environment, helping it blend in with the surroundings for camouflage. This adaptation serves as protection against predators, such as birds.

Web Construction

Hentz Orb Weavers are nocturnal hunters, spinning their webs during the late afternoon or evening. Their webs are large and symmetrical, often measuring up to 30 cm (about 12 inches) in diameter. These webs are carefully engineered to capture flying insects like moths, flies, and beetles, which become entangled in the sticky spiral threads. Once an insect is trapped, the spider quickly moves to immobilize it with silk before injecting venom to paralyze or kill the prey.

The spider typically rebuilds its web every evening, consuming the old web to recycle the silk proteins and using them to construct a new one. If disturbed while building, the spider may hide by curling up or dropping to the ground, as these spiders are non-aggressive and avoid conflict.

Behavior and Reproduction

Despite their somewhat intimidating appearance, Hentz Orb Weavers are harmless to humans. They rarely bite, and their venom is not considered dangerous. Their primary role in the ecosystem is as pest controllers, helping reduce insect populations.

Reproduction usually takes place in late summer or early fall. After mating, the female will lay eggs in a silken sac that she attaches to a hidden area, often near the web. These egg sacs may contain hundreds of eggs, and the spiderlings emerge in the spring.

In summary, the Hentz Orb Weaver is a fascinating and beneficial spider species known for its striking webs, nocturnal habits, and role in maintaining insect balance in various ecosystems. Though their presence can be startling to humans, these spiders are an essential part of the natural world.