Spotted orbweaver (Neoscona crucifera)

Not in any medically significant way. Like almost all spiders the spotted 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.

Records are spread over 40 states; the top three, Texas, California and Virginia, hold 34% of them.

Across the U.S., observation records of the spotted orbweaver run mostly July through November, peaking in September with 32% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 2% of them.

Among states whose main season falls within one calendar year, it starts earliest in June (Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas) and latest in August (Massachusetts). The most common peak month is September, shared by Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland and 10 more.

Texas holds 441 licensed records, the 12th most recorded of 386 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Texas run mostly June through December, peaking in October; most licensed records come from Dallas County, Travis County and Bexar County. Next come Tarrant County (38) and Fort Bend County (20).

California holds 390 licensed records, the 20th most recorded of 309 spiders listed there. Its observation records in California run mostly July through November, peaking in October; most licensed records come from Los Angeles County, San Diego County and Orange County. Next come Santa Clara County (29) and Ventura County (16).

Virginia holds 213 licensed records, the 13th most recorded of 176 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Virginia run mostly July through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Arlington County and Prince William County. Next come Henrico County (10) and Fairfax City County (9).

North Carolina holds 198 licensed records, the joint 6th most recorded of 184 spiders listed there. Its observation records in North Carolina run mostly July through November, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Orange County, Wake County and Durham County. Next come Mecklenburg County (17) and Cumberland County (11).

Ohio holds 167 licensed records, the 10th most recorded of 332 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Ohio run mostly July through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Franklin County, Summit County and Hamilton County. Next come Lorain County (11) and Richland County (11).

Illinois holds 155 licensed records, the 11th most recorded of 243 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Illinois run mostly July through September, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Cook County, Champaign County and DuPage County. Next come Will County (7) and Kane County (6).

Maryland holds 133 licensed records, the 11th most recorded of 153 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Maryland run mostly July through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Baltimore County, Howard County and Montgomery County. Next come Prince George's County (18) and Frederick County (10).

Georgia holds 126 licensed records, the 11th most recorded of 186 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Georgia run mostly July through November, peaking in September; most licensed records come from DeKalb County, Clarke County and Fulton County. Next come Stephens County (8) and Cobb County (8).

Oklahoma holds 92 licensed records, the 10th most recorded of 149 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Oklahoma run mostly June through October, peaking in July; most licensed records come from McIntosh County, Mayes County and Oklahoma County. Next come Cleveland County (6) and Tulsa County (4).

Indiana holds 87 licensed records, the 10th most recorded of 133 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Indiana run mostly July through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Lake County, Marion County and Morgan County. Next come Monroe County (8) and Tippecanoe County (6).

Pennsylvania holds 85 licensed records, the 16th most recorded of 164 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Pennsylvania run mostly July through October, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Montgomery County, Chester County and Allegheny County. Next come Washington County (6) and Bucks County (6).

Alabama holds 81 licensed records, the joint 9th most recorded of 143 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Alabama run mostly July through November, peaking in October; most licensed records come from Jefferson County, Blount County and Mobile County. Next come Limestone County (5) and St. Clair County (5).

Tennessee holds 80 licensed records, the 12th most recorded of 138 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Tennessee run mostly July through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Knox County, Davidson County and Hamilton County. Next come Bradley County (8) and Lincoln County (5).

Delaware holds 73 licensed records, the 6th most recorded of 71 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Delaware run mostly July through November, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Sussex County, New Castle County and Kent County.

New York holds 73 licensed records, the 23rd most recorded of 149 spiders listed there. Its observation records in New York run mostly July through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Westchester County, Nassau County and Tompkins County. Next come Richmond County (6) and Kings County (5).

Minnesota holds 61 licensed records, the 10th most recorded of 145 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Minnesota run mostly July through September, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Hennepin County, Ramsey County and Anoka County. Next come Scott County (1).

Kentucky holds 56 licensed records, the 9th most recorded of 103 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Kentucky run mostly July through November, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Madison County, Jefferson County and Fayette County. Next come Campbell County (3) and Shelby County (2).

New Jersey holds 55 licensed records, the 9th most recorded of 127 spiders listed there. Its observation records in New Jersey run mostly July through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Cape May County, Middlesex County and Bergen County. Next come Salem County (5) and Burlington County (4).

Missouri holds 50 licensed records, the 11th most recorded of 117 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Missouri run mostly July through November, peaking in September; most licensed records come from St. Louis County, Jackson County and Texas County. Next come Boone County (3) and Shannon County (2).

Massachusetts holds 49 licensed records, the 25th most recorded of 189 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Massachusetts run mostly August through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Barnstable County, Suffolk County and Essex County. Next come Middlesex County (7) and Dukes County (6).

South Carolina holds 40 licensed records, the joint 13th most recorded of 121 spiders listed there. Its observation records in South Carolina run mostly June through October, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Greenville County, Spartanburg County and Richland County. Next come Lexington County (5) and Chesterfield County (3).

Kansas holds 38 licensed records, the joint 5th most recorded of 94 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Kansas run mostly July through October, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Douglas County, Leavenworth County and Shawnee County. Next come Johnson County (4) and Riley County (4).

Mississippi holds 38 licensed records, the 8th most recorded of 117 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Mississippi run mostly July through November, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Jackson County, Oktibbeha County and Simpson County. Next come Pearl River County (4) and Rankin County (3).

Florida holds 36 licensed records, the joint 52nd most recorded of 237 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Florida run mostly May through January, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Alachua County, Duval County and Wakulla County. Next come Columbia County (3) and Marion County (2).

Louisiana holds 33 licensed records, the 24th most recorded of 107 spiders listed there. Its observation records in Louisiana run mostly July through December, peaking in July; most licensed records come from East Baton Rouge Parish, Saint Tammany Parish and Lincoln Parish. Next come Saint Landry Parish (2) and Saint Martin Parish (2).

Most of what is known about the spotted orbweaver is recent: 90% of dated U.S. records were made in 2017–2026, and half date from 2023 or later. The oldest dated record is from 1966; the busiest year was 2025, with 645 records.

Of the 360 counties where the spotted orbweaver is most recorded, 234 are also top counties for the black-and-yellow argiope, more than for any other spider. None of its closest neighbors is venomous.

Other species of the genus Neoscona with profiles here: Arabesque orbweaver, Western spotted orbweaver and Red-femured spotted orbweaver.