Paul Whitten
Giant Lichen Orb Weaver Spider, Araneus bicentenarius, 2005

Photomacrograph; direct digital capture; electronic flash

New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Medical Photography, New York, New York, United States

rb weavers comprise a very large family of spiders including several hundred species in North America alone. The giant lichen orb weaver spider, Araneus bicentenarius, was first described in 1888 by Henry C. McCook—a well-known naturalist and vice president of the Academy of Natural Sciences located in Philadelphia. There are few species of orb weavers with green abdominal patterns such as this one. Its size, beautiful coloration, and impressive web structure make it a privilege to locate when chanced upon. This specimen was photographed in-situ in Casco, Maine.

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