The Red-femured Spotted Orbweaver Spider, Neoscona domiciliorum, is one of the larger orb weavers in Florida. Males grow to less than .6 of an inch while females grow to a whopping 3/4 of an inch. These beautiful spiders are easy to identify with their red femora (thighs) and banded legs.
Red-femured Spotted Orbweaver Spiders are common in moist woodlands throughout Florida. Look for them perched head down in their webs. Orb weavers play an important role in our ecosystems because they consume a variety of insects. Their bites are not known to cause serious harm to humans.
Photo Credit: Lynn Marie