Giant lichen orbweaver (Araneus bicentenarius)
The giant lichen orbweaver is a spider in the family Araneidae that is not dangerous to people. GBIF holds 350 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 27 states, most of all Texas (156), Massachusetts (29) and Georgia (18). Its observation records peak in June.
Araneus bicentenarius, the giant lichen orbweaver, is a species of orb weaver in the family Araneidae. It is found in the USA and Canada.
From Wikipedia: Araneus bicentenarius, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is the giant lichen orbweaver poisonous or venomous?
Not in any medically significant way. Like almost all spiders the giant lichen 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 giant lichen orbweaver?
Records are spread over 27 states; the top three, Texas, Massachusetts and Georgia, hold 58% of them.
| # | State | Records | Share of state spiders | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 156 | 0.5% | 36th of 386 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 29 | 0.6% | 38th of 189 |
| 3 | Georgia | 18 | 0.3% | 71st of 186 |
| 4 | Alabama | 17 | 0.5% | 54th of 143 |
| 5 | Florida | 16 | 0.1% | 109th of 237 |
| 6 | North Carolina | 12 | 0.1% | 82nd of 184 |
| 7 | South Carolina | 12 | 0.5% | 43rd of 121 |
| 8 | Maine | 11 | 1.2% | 23rd of 297 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | 11 | 0.4% | 69th of 149 |
| 10 | Louisiana | 9 | 0.2% | 65th of 107 |
| 11 | New York | 9 | 0.1% | 80th of 149 |
| 12 | Mississippi | 8 | 0.6% | 35th of 117 |
| 13 | Minnesota | 6 | 0.2% | 75th of 145 |
| 14 | Arkansas | 5 | 0.3% | 70th of 114 |
| 15 | Tennessee | 5 | 0.1% | 89th of 138 |
| 16 | Michigan | 4 | 0.2% | 65th of 122 |
| 17 | Oklahoma | 4 | 0.1% | 110th of 149 |
| 18 | Kentucky | 3 | 0.2% | 77th of 103 |
| 19 | Ohio | 3 | 0.0% | 132nd of 332 |
| 20 | Missouri | 2 | 0.1% | 82nd of 117 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | 2 | 0.1% | 61st of 72 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | 2 | 1.2% | 21st of 53 |
| 23 | Illinois | 1 | 0.0% | 239th of 243 |
| 24 | Virginia | 1 | 0.0% | 167th of 176 |
| 25 | Connecticut | 0 | — | — |
| 26 | Maryland | 0 | — | — |
| 27 | Vermont | 0 | — | — |
When is the giant lichen orbweaver seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the giant lichen orbweaver run mostly April through August, peaking in June with 31% of them. Almost none are from December to February.
How recent are the giant lichen orbweaver records?
Most of what is known about the giant lichen orbweaver is recent: 90% of dated U.S. records were made in 2017–2026, and half date from 2022 or later. The oldest dated record is from 1978; the busiest year was 2024, with 73 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1 | 0.3% |
| 1990s | 1 | 0.3% |
| 2000s | 10 | 2.8% |
| 2010s | 67 | 19.0% |
| 2020s | 274 | 77.6% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 15 counties where the giant lichen orbweaver is most recorded, 9 are also top counties for the twin-flagged jumping spider, more than for any other spider. None of its closest neighbors is venomous.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| Twin-flagged jumping spider | 9 |
| Agyneta llanoensis | 8 |
| Cicurina varians | 8 |
| Eidmannella rostrata | 8 |
| Banded fishing spider | 7 |
| Cave cobweb spider | 7 |
| Gladicosa pulchra | 7 |
| Habronattus fallax | 7 |
Related species in the U.S.
Other species of the genus Araneus with profiles here: Garden spider, Marbled orbweaver, Butterfly orbweaver and Shamrock orbweaver.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.