''Neoscona theisi'' is a species of spider in the family

Araneidae Orb-weaver spiders are members of the spider family Araneidae. They are the most common group of builders of spiral wheel-shaped webs often found in gardens, fields, and forests. The English word "orb" can mean "circular", hence the English name ...

. Spiders in the genus ''Neoscona'' have a mostly pantropical distribution.

Description

''Neoscona theisi'' females have a body length up to . Males are slightly smaller, measuring up to . They build an

orb web A spider web, spiderweb, spider's web, or cobweb (from the archaic word '' coppe'', meaning "spider") is a structure created by a spider out of proteinaceous spider silk extruded from its spinnerets, generally meant to catch its prey. Spid ...

and rest near the centre. Individuals vary in color from dark reddish-brown to pale-yellow with a distinct pattern on the upper abdomen, lighter along the centre-line and darker on the sides. The legs are light with dark patches at the joints. The sternum is a dark shield shape with a pale yellow longitudinal stripe mid-line. The sternum contrasts with the pale coxa of the nearest leg joints. There is a characteristic longitudinal groove on the

carapace A carapace is a Dorsum (biology), dorsal (upper) section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods, such as crustaceans and arachnids, as well as vertebrates, such as turtles and tortoises. In turtles and tor ...

which separates all species of'' Neoscona'' from species of ''

Araneus ''Araneus'' is a genus of common orb-weaving spiders. It includes about 650 species, among which are the European garden spider and the barn spider. The genus was erected by Carl Alexander Clerck in 1757. Description Spiders of this genus prese ...

''.

Gallery

Neoscona theisi - male (dorsal) 0473.jpg, Male dorsal Neoscona theisi - male (ventral) 0495.jpg, Male ventral Neoscona theisi - female (dorsal) 8988.jpg, Female dorsal Neoscona theisi - female (ventral) 8978.jpg, Female ventral

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2527769 theisi Spiders described in 1841