Spider Identification Illinois

Question

I noticed a really huge, beautiful web on my porch last week, and tonight, I discovered its resident. I'm thinking it's an Araneus diadematus (Cross Orbweaver), but I was hoping for some confirmation.

Can anyone confirm this or offer a better suggestion?

Answer 1

This is very likely an araneid (or Orb-weaver spider) in the family Araneidae.

Without further evidence, it's hard to narrow down to a species.

One possibility:

Neoscona crucifera (Hentz orbweaver, spotted orbweaver or barn spider)

^{Source: Will Cook 2001}

^{Source: Wikipedia}

• Description:
  • Relatively variable in color (and sometimes pattern), but is usually rusty-red or golden orange color.
    • This site suggests females are reddish-brown to brown and males are lighter brown with the sides of the carapace nearly black.
  • Dorsal abdomen is brown and hairy; abdomen underside = black, with two white spots
  • The epithet crucifera refers to the cross-like pattern on their back
  • Legs have alternating light and dark brown bands.
• Size: females = 9.5-19 mm long; males = somewhat smaller
• Web: very large (up to 0.61 m diameter) and often on buildings and other man-made structures
• Range: Eastern/Central USA + Mexico

According to Will Cook,

Several other species of Neoscona are confusingly similar...Other species usually have a bolder pattern.

We can rule out Neoscona domiciliorum because Illinois is west of its range and the colroation is different. [Source].