Invertebrates
See our handy guide to critters found in local homes and our Central Coast Butterfly FAQ. Browse the insects and other terrestrial arthropods we’ve identified. Check out local marine invertebrates, particularly bivalve mollusks and intertidal organisms.
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Spider with a big web
I believe we have quite a number of these spiders around our property but this had the biggest web so it may be actually be different from the rest? We have oak trees and it was suspended smack dab in the middle of the yard. Impressive!
Curator Response
Hi Cathy,
Thanks for sending in your beautiful spider. This looks like Neoscona crucifera. These are so abundant this year, and I'm getting messages about them from friends and family here, as well as on the East Coast.
The different sized webs are due to spiders at different stages of growth/maturation. The largest ones are adult females, and we will see more and more large ones as we move through September and October (yay, Halloween!).
Stay curious,
Collections Associate Jen Maupin, Ph.D.