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Neoscona

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Neoscona
Neoscona adianta in Belgium
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Araneidae
Genus: Neoscona
E. Simon, 1864[1]
Type species
N. arabesca
(Walckenaer, 1841)
Species

123, see text

Synonyms[2]
  • Afraranea Archer, 1951[3]
  • Chinestela Chamberlin, 1924[4]
  • Cubanella Franganillo, 1926[5][6]

Neoscona, known as spotted orb-weavers and barn spiders,[7] is a genus of orb-weaver spiders (Araneidae) first described by Eugène Simon in 1895 to separate these from other araneids in the now obsolete genus Epeira. The name Neoscona was derived from the Greek νέω, meaning "spin", and σχοῖνος, meaning "reed".[8] They have a mostly pantropical distribution and one species, Neoscona adianta, has a palearctic distribution.[2] The genus has more than 100 species (see below), eight of which can be found in the United States and Canada as of April 2019.[7]

Description

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Neoscona species are among the most common spiders in North America and are found throughout most parts of the world.[9] There are large variations in the dorsal patterns and coloration of the abdomen, even in a single species. Most have a light color with wavy edges along the mid-line, and darker swirls either side of that. Ventral abdominal patterns may consist of a dark area bordered by white, roughly forming a square. In adults the pattern can be faded. The venter of the abdomen is dark bordered on the sides by white spots.[9] Neoscona can be difficult to distinguish from species of Araneus without close examination of the carapace. Neoscona have a characteristic dorsal groove on the carapace that is parallel with the long axis of the body. The dorsal grooves of Araneus are transverse or angular, though they are sometimes so small that they appear as dimples on the dorsal surface.[7] With the leg arrangement, the first are the longest, the second are second longest and the third are the shortest. The largest eyes are the anterior medians, next or subequal are posterior medians and the secondary eyes are slightly smaller. The webs are usually vertical with about twenty radii and an open hub at the centre. Some species have been recorded as retreating to a leaf during the day.[9]

Species

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As of April 2019 there are 123 species worldwide:[2]

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References

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  1. ^ "Gen. Neoscona Simon, 1864", World Spider Catalog Version 16.5, retrieved 2015-09-18
  2. ^ a b c "Gen. Neoscona Simon, 1864". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. Retrieved 2019-05-14.
  3. ^ Grasshoff, M. (1986). "Die Radnetzspinnen-Gattung Neoscona in Afrika (Arachnida: Araneae)". Annalen Zoologische Wetenschappen. 250: 4.
  4. ^ Archer, A. F. (1958). "Studies in the orbweaving spiders (Argiopidae). 4". American Museum Novitates (1922): 17.
  5. ^ Berman, J. D.; Levi, H. W. (1971). "The orb weaver genus Neoscona in North America (Araneae: Araneidae)". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 141: 469.
  6. ^ Bryant, E. B. (1940). "Cuban spiders in the Museum of Comparative Zoology". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 86: 511.
  7. ^ a b c "Genus Neoscona". BugGuide. Retrieved 2019-05-14.
  8. ^ Simon, E (1895). Histoire naturelle des araignées. Paris, Librairie encyclopédique de Roret. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.51973.
  9. ^ a b c Bergman, J.D.; Levi, H.W. (1971). The orb weaver genus Neoscona in North America (Araneae:Araneidae). Vol. 141. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College. Retrieved 2020-04-14 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
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