Labyrinth orbweaver (Metepeira labyrinthea)
The labyrinth orbweaver is a spider in the family Araneidae that is not dangerous to people. GBIF holds 437 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 22 states, most of all Virginia (84), Maryland (60) and North Carolina (41). Its observation records peak in July.
Metepeira labyrinthea, the labyrinth orbweaver, is a spider, with thin legs and a round, bulbous abdomen It is a member of the genus Metepeira in the family Araneidae. The female’s length is 5.3 mm, its carapace 2.3 mm, abdomen 3.3 mm, and extended legs 18.4 mm. The carapace is brown or gray, and the abdomen is dark with a white pattern.
From Wikipedia: Metepeira labyrinthea, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is the labyrinth orbweaver poisonous or venomous?
Not in any medically significant way. Like almost all spiders the labyrinth 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 labyrinth orbweaver?
Records are spread over 22 states; the top three, Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina, hold 42% of them.
| # | State | Records | Share of state spiders | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia | 84 | 0.7% | 34th of 176 |
| 2 | Maryland | 60 | 1.1% | 24th of 153 |
| 3 | North Carolina | 41 | 0.5% | 47th of 184 |
| 4 | Ohio | 35 | 0.5% | 48th of 332 |
| 5 | Georgia | 27 | 0.4% | 54th of 186 |
| 6 | Texas | 18 | 0.1% | 160th of 386 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 15 | 0.2% | 67th of 164 |
| 8 | Tennessee | 15 | 0.4% | 53rd of 138 |
| 9 | New York | 14 | 0.2% | 68th of 149 |
| 10 | Alabama | 13 | 0.4% | 67th of 143 |
| 11 | Delaware | 12 | 0.6% | 41st of 71 |
| 12 | Florida | 9 | 0.1% | 148th of 237 |
| 13 | South Carolina | 7 | 0.3% | 61st of 121 |
| 14 | Missouri | 6 | 0.3% | 58th of 117 |
| 15 | Arkansas | 4 | 0.2% | 75th of 114 |
| 16 | Kentucky | 4 | 0.2% | 69th of 103 |
| 17 | Massachusetts | 4 | 0.1% | 104th of 189 |
| 18 | New Jersey | 4 | 0.2% | 90th of 127 |
| 19 | Oklahoma | 4 | 0.1% | 110th of 149 |
| 20 | Illinois | 3 | 0.0% | 230th of 243 |
| 21 | Indiana | 3 | 0.1% | 124th of 133 |
| 22 | Mississippi | 1 | 0.1% | 90th of 117 |
When is the labyrinth orbweaver seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the labyrinth orbweaver run mostly June through November, peaking in July with 28% of them. Almost none are from December to February.
Season by state
Among states whose main season falls within one calendar year, it starts earliest in May (Maryland and North Carolina) and latest in July (Ohio). The most common peak month is July, shared by Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia.
| State | Main season | Peak month | Observation records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | June through September | July | 84 |
| Maryland | May through September | July | 57 |
| North Carolina | May through September | July | 41 |
| Ohio | July through October | August | 35 |
Where the labyrinth orbweaver is recorded in each state
Virginia
Virginia holds 84 licensed records, the 34th most recorded of 176 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Virginia run mostly June through September, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Hanover County and Arlington County. Next come Loudoun County (7) and Goochland County (5).
Maryland
Maryland holds 60 licensed records, the 24th most recorded of 153 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Maryland run mostly May through September, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Montgomery County, Prince George's County and Anne Arundel County. Next come Baltimore County (5) and Harford County (4).
North Carolina
North Carolina holds 41 licensed records, the joint 47th most recorded of 184 spiders listed there. Its observation records in North Carolina run mostly May through September, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Orange County, Mecklenburg County and Durham County. Next come Randolph County (3) and Wake County (3).
Ohio
Ohio holds 35 licensed records, the 48th most recorded of 332 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Ohio run mostly July through October, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Mahoning County, Franklin County and Cuyahoga County. Next come Richland County (4) and Delaware County (2).
Top counties in the U.S.
| # | County | State | Records | Share of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairfax County | Virginia | 36 | 8.2% |
| 2 | Ventura County | California | 33 | 7.6% |
| 3 | Orange County | North Carolina | 18 | 4.1% |
| 4 | Montgomery County | Maryland | 15 | 3.4% |
| 5 | Prince George's County | Maryland | 13 | 3.0% |
| 6 | San Diego County | California | 9 | 2.1% |
| 7 | Hanover County | Virginia | 8 | 1.8% |
| 8 | Arlington County | Virginia | 8 | 1.8% |
| 9 | Anne Arundel County | Maryland | 7 | 1.6% |
| 10 | Loudoun County | Virginia | 7 | 1.6% |
| 11 | Merced County | California | 6 | 1.4% |
| 12 | Mecklenburg County | North Carolina | 6 | 1.4% |
| 13 | Mahoning County | Ohio | 6 | 1.4% |
| 14 | Baltimore County | Maryland | 5 | 1.1% |
| 15 | Franklin County | Ohio | 5 | 1.1% |
How recent are the labyrinth orbweaver records?
Most of what is known about the labyrinth orbweaver is recent: 84% of dated U.S. records were made in 2017–2026, and half date from 2023 or later. The oldest dated record is from 1928; the busiest year was 2024, with 84 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 3 | 0.7% |
| 1930s | 1 | 0.2% |
| 1950s | 3 | 0.7% |
| 1970s | 1 | 0.2% |
| 2000s | 5 | 1.1% |
| 2010s | 116 | 25.5% |
| 2020s | 326 | 71.6% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 57 counties where the labyrinth orbweaver is most recorded, 36 are also top counties for the spotted orbweaver, more than for any other spider. None of its closest neighbors is venomous.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| Spotted orbweaver | 36 |
| Bowl and doily spider | 35 |
| Parson spider | 35 |
| Arabesque orbweaver | 34 |
| Nursery web spider | 34 |
| Orchard orbweaver | 34 |
| Bold jumper | 33 |
| Spined micrathena | 33 |
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.