Family Araneidae (Orb Weavers/ Garden spiders)

[Arosa Hya]

Identification Characters:

1. Tibia and meta-tarsus 1 & 2without pro-lateral row of spines.
2. Sternum not wider than long, Posterior coxaenot widely separated.
3. Posterior spinnerets present, notshorter than anterior.
4. Posterior spinnerets shorter and thick.
5. Anal Tubercle small, notfringed, ocular group notcompact.
6. Tarsi of the usual type, Labiumlonger than wide, legs not very long.
7. With 8 Eyes.
8. Anterior row with 4 eyes.
9. Tarsi with 3 Clawswithoutclaw tufts.
10. The 6 spinneretsnot in a transverse row, But of the usual arrangement. Tracheal spiracle in the usual place in front of the spinnerets.
11. Eyes groupnot forming a Hexagon, and clypeus much lower.Abdomennotpointed and legswithout conspicuous spines.
12. Tarsus 4not provided with comb of serrated Bristles.
13. TarsiwithoutTrichobothria.
14. Clypeus in most lower than the height of the median ocular area. Eyes Homogeneous.
15. Epigastric furrow nearly straight. Bosspresent on chelicera though rudimentary in some cases. Chelicerae not very large.

[Arosa Hya]

Trichobothrium: (pl: trichobothria) long, slender, sensory hairs that grow perpendicularly from the leg. These specialized hairs are used to sense vibrations and wind currents, including even the slightest movement from the flutter of insect wings!

Clypeus: the area of the carapace between the bottom (anterior) row of eyes and the beginning of the chelicerae (jaws).

Epigynum, Epigyne: (pl: epigyna) the complex region of female spiders covering the internal genitalia and located on the underside of the abdomen, near its connection to the cephalothorax. The epigyne area is the “finger print” to the species. More often than not, this area must be seen under a microscope by an experienced eye in order to determine the species.

[Arosa Hya]

Trichobothrium: (pl: trichobothria) long, slender, sensory hairs that grow perpendicularly from the leg. These specialized hairs are used to sense vibrations and wind currents, including even the slightest movement from the flutter of insect wings!