The big and beautiful Marbled Orb Weaver is a spider of grassy meadows and shrubby areas. It can be found anywhere in Alberta. Like other spiders in the Orb-Weaving Family, these distinctive spiders and their photogenic spiral webs tend to be noticed in late summer. Although the spider has been around all year it has reached full size in the waning days of summer. Most of our Alberta spiders have one-year life spans, and success is measured by leaving a good batch of offspring to carry on when warm days return in spring.
Like most spiders, the females are larger than males. A full-grown female Marbled Orb Weaver can be from 9 to almost 20 mm long (? to ¾ in.) – not counting the eight long legs! A huge male might be the size of the smallest female, but is generally smaller than that at 6 to 9 mm (¼ to ? in.).
The globular yellowish abdomen has a marbled pattern of browns and purples with some orangy yellow spots near the midline. The legs are orange with white bands.
Although this spider is large and colourful, it is usually hidden near the web in a tent of leaves or under loose bark. There is a ‘telegraph’ thread leading to the retreat alerting the spider to any movement in the web that might signify dinner.
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Where to find Marbled Orb Weavers in Alberta
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Marbled Orb Weaver Behaviour
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Interesting Facts about Marbled Orb Weavers
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Marbled Orb Weaver Sounds
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RAY PHILLIPS
for serving as the society's DIRECTOR (MEMBERSHIPS) this year
ROSEMARIE FOLEY
for serving 7 consecutive years on the society's Board