Description Male 1/8" (4 mm), female 7/8-1" (22-25
mm). Female's cephalothorax pale gray with 3 black spots on
each side; legs dark with brownish bands and conspicuous tufts
of black hair on 1st and last pairs of legs. Female's abdomen
brownish green, spotted with white in irregular pattern. Male's
body color drabber; legs also have tufts of black hair. In
both sexes abdomen is 2 1/2-3 times as long as it is broad.
Food Flying insects.
Web Strong, slightly inclined orb with notchlike support lines.
Web may measure 2-3' (1 m) across.
Life Cycle Female attaches elongated egg mass to undersurface
of leaf and then rests nearby. Spiderlings disperse, each to
make web elsewhere. At first, they build only 2/3 of a web,
leaving the top somewhat irregular across from principal support
line.
Habitat Shaded woodlands and swamps.
Range Southeastern United States.
Discussion During the day the spider hangs head downward from
the underside of the web near the meshlike center or hub. The
spider repairs the webbing each day, replacing half but never
the whole web at one time.
