Pest profile

Orchard Orbweaver

Leucauge venusta and L. argyrobapta (shown: L. venusta) · Araneae: Tetragnathidae[4]

Orchard orbweavers are small, gleaming silvery spiders with green legs that build horizontal or slanted orb webs in shrubs, hedges and under eaves.[1]

Orchard orbweaver in its web, with green legs and a silvery abdomen marked with dark lines
Orchard orbweaver in its web, with green legs and a silvery abdomen marked with dark lines. (c) Corey Farwell, some rights reserved (CC BY) — via iNaturalist, CC BY 4.0

How to identify it

  • Females are 5.5 to 7.5 mm long and males 3.5 to 4 mm, with longer legs.[1]
  • The legs are green or greenish black with black bands at the joints, and the silvery-white abdomen has dark lengthwise lines and yellow sides.[1]
  • Reddish-orange spots mark the rear of the abdomen and its underside.[1]

Look-alikes

Look-alikeHow to tell them apart
Black widowThe reddish-orange marks under the abdomen lead some people to mistake orchard orbweavers for black widows.[1]

Where it lives

Leucauge venusta ranges from Canada through the eastern US to Georgia, with a small population in southern California; L. argyrobapta lives in Florida and south to Brazil.[1]

US map: public records from 34 states since 1990 (GBIF).

Biology and life cycle

Webs are usually horizontal or tilted less than 45 degrees, and the spider rests under the central hub.[1]

They're common in shrubby meadows, woodland edges and orchards, and in wooded suburbs between hedges and houses under eaves.[1]

Egg sacs of fluffy orange-white silk hold several hundred eggs and are attached to a leaf or twig near the web.[1]

An alarmed spider runs to the edge of its web or drops on a silk line and climbs back later.[1]

Damage and signs

  • Spiders are beneficial insect eaters; orb weavers rarely come indoors, though they often live on or near outside walls.[2]

Health risk

Most spiders don't try to bite, and those that do usually cause a reaction like a bee or wasp sting.[2]

Control

Prevention

Outdoor lights draw the insects spiders eat, so keep light fixtures off walls and away from windows and doors where you can.[3]

Traps and physical control

Sweep, hose or vacuum unwanted webs off buildings regularly.[3]

Common questions

Is the little silver spider with orange spots a black widow?
Probably not; orchard orbweavers have reddish-orange marks that people sometimes mistake for a black widow's.[1]
Where do orchard orbweavers build their webs?
In shrubs, hedges, woodland edges and orchards, and under eaves in wooded suburbs.[1]

Sources

  1. University of Florida IFAS Extension (Featured Creatures), “Orchard Orbweaver, Leucauge argyrobapta and L. venusta (EENY-728).” edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1243 (accessed 2026-10-06)
  2. University of Kentucky Entomology (ENTFACT), “ENTFACT-622: Common Spiders Found Around Homes and Buildings.” entomology.mgcafe.uky.edu/ef622 (accessed 2026-10-06)
  3. University of California Statewide IPM Program, “Spiders (Pest Notes, Home and Landscape).” ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/spiders/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
  4. iNaturalist, “Leucauge venusta taxon page (order and family).” www.inaturalist.org/taxa/778499 (accessed 2026-10-06)

Updated 2026-10-14. Built from sourced records. Spot an error? Tell us.