Basilica orbweaver (Mecynogea lemniscata)
The basilica orbweaver is a spider in the family Araneidae that is not dangerous to people. GBIF holds 545 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 18 states, most of all Virginia (81), Maryland (66) and North Carolina (59). Its observation records peak in July.
Mecynogea lemniscata, the basilica orbweaver, is a species of orb weaver in the spider family Araneidae. It is found in a range from the United States to Argentina.
From Wikipedia: Mecynogea lemniscata, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is the basilica orbweaver poisonous or venomous?
Not in any medically significant way. Like almost all spiders the basilica orbweaver (family Araneidae) has venom for its prey, but it is not a widow or recluse, the two U.S. groups whose bites need medical attention.
Which states have the basilica orbweaver?
Records are spread over 18 states; the top three, Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina, hold 38% of them.
| # | State | Records | Share of state spiders | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia | 81 | 0.7% | 35th of 176 |
| 2 | Maryland | 66 | 1.2% | 20th of 153 |
| 3 | North Carolina | 59 | 0.7% | 34th of 184 |
| 4 | New Jersey | 52 | 2.3% | 10th of 127 |
| 5 | Florida | 46 | 0.4% | 41st of 237 |
| 6 | Texas | 43 | 0.1% | 108th of 386 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 41 | 0.6% | 33rd of 164 |
| 8 | Tennessee | 33 | 0.9% | 30th of 138 |
| 9 | Georgia | 27 | 0.4% | 54th of 186 |
| 10 | Louisiana | 19 | 0.5% | 41st of 107 |
| 11 | Delaware | 18 | 0.9% | 32nd of 71 |
| 12 | New York | 14 | 0.2% | 68th of 149 |
| 13 | South Carolina | 14 | 0.6% | 36th of 121 |
| 14 | Alabama | 11 | 0.3% | 71st of 143 |
| 15 | Oklahoma | 7 | 0.1% | 88th of 149 |
| 16 | Arkansas | 4 | 0.2% | 75th of 114 |
| 17 | Kentucky | 2 | 0.1% | 84th of 103 |
| 18 | Mississippi | 2 | 0.1% | 82nd of 117 |
When is the basilica orbweaver seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the basilica orbweaver run mostly February through October, peaking in July with 26% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 10% of them.
Season by state
Among states whose main season falls within one calendar year, it starts earliest in March (New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Tennessee) and latest in May (North Carolina). The most common peak month is July, shared by Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
| State | Main season | Peak month | Observation records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | April through October | July | 81 |
| Maryland | June through February | July | 66 |
| North Carolina | May through November | July | 54 |
| New Jersey | March through October | July | 52 |
| Pennsylvania | March through November | August | 41 |
| Texas | April through July | May | 41 |
| Florida | December through August | January | 37 |
| Tennessee | March through August | July | 32 |
Where the basilica orbweaver is recorded in each state
Virginia
Virginia holds 81 licensed records, the 35th most recorded of 176 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Virginia run mostly April through October, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Arlington County and Prince William County. Next come Loudoun County (5) and Henrico County (4).
Maryland
Maryland holds 66 licensed records, the joint 20th most recorded of 153 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Maryland run mostly June through February, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Montgomery County, Howard County and Baltimore County. Next come Prince George's County (5) and Anne Arundel County (5).
North Carolina
North Carolina holds 59 licensed records, the 34th most recorded of 184 spiders listed there. Its observation records in North Carolina run mostly May through November, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Wake County, Durham County and Orange County. Next come Cumberland County (6) and New Hanover County (5).
New Jersey
New Jersey holds 52 licensed records, the joint 10th most recorded of 127 spiders listed there. Its observation records in New Jersey run mostly March through October, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Burlington County, Middlesex County and Atlantic County. Next come Somerset County (6) and Essex County (5).
Florida
Florida holds 46 licensed records, the 41st most recorded of 237 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Florida run mostly December through August, peaking in January; most licensed records come from Alachua County, Miami-Dade County and Polk County. Next come Gilchrist County (2) and Indian River County (2).
Texas
Texas holds 43 licensed records, the joint 108th most recorded of 386 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Texas run mostly April through July, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Harris County, Tarrant County and Fort Bend County. Next come Hidalgo County (3) and Wilson County (3).
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania holds 41 licensed records, the 33rd most recorded of 164 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Pennsylvania run mostly March through November, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Montgomery County, Philadelphia County and Bucks County. Next come Delaware County (3) and Dauphin County (2).
Tennessee
Tennessee holds 33 licensed records, the 30th most recorded of 138 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Tennessee run mostly March through August, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Knox County, Shelby County and Cheatham County. Next come Montgomery County (4) and Bradley County (3).
Top counties in the U.S.
| # | County | State | Records | Share of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montgomery County | Maryland | 29 | 5.3% |
| 2 | Fairfax County | Virginia | 28 | 5.1% |
| 3 | Wake County | North Carolina | 18 | 3.3% |
| 4 | Alachua County | Florida | 15 | 2.8% |
| 5 | Montgomery County | Pennsylvania | 14 | 2.6% |
| 6 | Arlington County | Virginia | 14 | 2.6% |
| 7 | Harris County | Texas | 13 | 2.4% |
| 8 | Howard County | Maryland | 12 | 2.2% |
| 9 | Philadelphia County | Pennsylvania | 12 | 2.2% |
| 10 | Prince William County | Virginia | 12 | 2.2% |
| 11 | Burlington County | New Jersey | 9 | 1.7% |
| 12 | Durham County | North Carolina | 9 | 1.7% |
| 13 | Middlesex County | New Jersey | 8 | 1.5% |
| 14 | Knox County | Tennessee | 8 | 1.5% |
| 15 | Baltimore County | Maryland | 7 | 1.3% |
How recent are the basilica orbweaver records?
Most of what is known about the basilica orbweaver is recent: 91% of dated U.S. records were made in 2017–2026, and half date from 2022 or later. The oldest dated record is from 1928; the busiest year was 2022, with 82 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 1 | 0.2% |
| 1970s | 1 | 0.2% |
| 1980s | 9 | 1.5% |
| 1990s | 2 | 0.3% |
| 2000s | 12 | 2.1% |
| 2010s | 99 | 17.0% |
| 2020s | 460 | 78.8% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 102 counties where the basilica orbweaver is most recorded, 66 are also top counties for the familiar jumping spider, more than for any other spider. None of its closest neighbors is venomous.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| Familiar jumping spider | 66 |
| Bold jumper | 64 |
| Spotted orbweaver | 64 |
| Black-and-yellow argiope | 61 |
| Nursery web spider | 55 |
| Flea jumping spider | 54 |
| Orchard orbweaver | 54 |
| Spined micrathena | 54 |
Related species in the U.S.
Other members of the family Araneidae with profiles here: Black-and-yellow argiope, Spotted orbweaver, Spiny-backed orbweaver, Garden spider, American golden orb weaver and Spined micrathena.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.