Marbled Orb Weaver

The Marbled Orb Weaver (Araneus marmoreus), is one of the most visually striking spiders in Illinois. It can be found all over North America, but it prefers to make its webs in wooded areas. Male marbled orb weavers are only approximately half as long as females, measuring about 9 millimeters in length. Because of how much their huge, orange abdomens resemble a pumpkin, they are sometimes known as pumpkin spiders. Though some have pale yellow abdomens with a dark spot near the back, the majority of them have orange abdomens with black or brown marbling.

Marbled orb weavers build vertically-oriented webs with a silk retreat in the corner where they hide during the day. Although they are quite large, they are not known to be aggressive, and their bite poses no danger to humans.