Eriophora ravilla
(Tropical Orb-weaver)

Picture ID 53461

Comments & ID Thoughts

This is the top side, I'd previously uploaded its bottom abdomen side. The abdomen tore as I was scooting it over. It appears to have some yellow hair too, if that helps.

Submitted by:
bellad
Submitted: Feb 19, 2019
Photographed: Feb 15, 2019
Spider: Eriophora ravilla (Tropical Orb-weaver)
Sex:
Female,
Maturity:
Adult
Location: Houston, Texas, United States
Spotted Outdoors: Man-made structure (building wall, fences, etc.)
Found in web?: Yes
Attributes: Dorsal

7 Comments

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ItsyBitsy

Moderator

February 20, 2019 10:23 am

Hi, this is a Tropical Orb-weaver, Eriophora ravilla.

ItsyBitsy

Moderator

Reply to ItsyBitsy

February 20, 2019 10:29 am

Orb-weavers are beneficial, they often prey on less desirable things and help keep the insect population in check. These may be relocated if they build a web somewhere undesirable (like across a walkway).

BellaD

Photo Owner

Reply to ItsyBitsy

February 21, 2019 9:59 am

Will they bite people? And are there different kinds of these types of orb-weavers? Because the picture you shared doesn’t look the same.

ItsyBitsy

Moderator

Reply to BellaD

February 21, 2019 10:49 am

Orb-weavers are generally timid and reluctant to bite. They’ll generally only bite in self defense if trapped against the skin. Since my main antagonist was mosquitoes when my child was a toddler I welcomed these around my home as a natural defense. (Just so long as they kept their webs off the walkway.) It was actually your second image I used to ID this, no other species of Orb-weaver in your region has that same ventral pattern, and this species does have several wildly different looking color morphs … you can see some of them here: https://bugguide.net/node/view/24094

BellaD

Photo Owner

Reply to ItsyBitsy

February 21, 2019 10:24 pm

Thank you for your help, I really appreciate it.

BellaD

Photo Owner

Reply to ItsyBitsy

February 21, 2019 9:55 am

Oh thank you for knowing what kind it is!!! My toddler almost walked right into it. I freaked out and sprayed it with clorox, I was mortified. And as I was speaking, it fell off onto the ground… and it was coming towards me. Either towards me or trying to get back to its web. That only started me even more because this one was huge, huge abdomen. I was freaked out, not knowing if it was venomous and dangerous if it bit my premature child. She doesn’t have a strong immune system, so I do kill everything.