Red-Femured Spotted Orb Weaver

The Red-Femured Spotted Orb Weaver, Neoscona domiciliorus, is the third orb-weaver to make a list of spiders in New Jersey. It is endemic to the United States and is primarily present in the east. The term domiciliorus, which is derived from the Latin domiciliorum, meaning "of homes", refers to the fact that you can frequently locate this spider on buildings.

Males are about 8 millimeters long while adult females range in length from 7 to 16 millimeters. Males have relatively short, straight abdomens while females have short, gray hair that covers their bodies. On the back of the abdomen, they have a distinctive bright yellow or white marking. Each leg has a red beginning segment, hence its name, and alternates white and black for the remaining segments. Nighttime hunters known as red-femurs spotted orb weavers utilize their webs to ensnare their prey. While venomous, their bite is not serious.