Marbled orbweaver
The marbled orbweaver's swollen orange abdomen gives it the nickname pumpkin spider, though some individuals stay pale yellow with just a single dark rear mark.
| Where | Damp forest edges and streamside shrubs |
|---|---|
| Size | Female 5 to 20 mm, male 5 to 10 mm body length |
| When | June to October |
Females carry a large, rounded abdomen that ranges from bright orange with fine black marbling to pale yellow with a single dark patch near the rear. The legs are reddish brown, sometimes banded with black, and the body is noticeably larger than the male's slender form.
Webs are usually built among shrubs and low branches at the edge of damp woodland, close to streams. The spider waits hidden nearby in a curled leaf or silk retreat, keeping a signal thread attached to the web so it can feel for trapped prey without watching the web directly.
Traits
Habitat
Woodland
Colour
Orange, Brown, Black
Active
Day and night
To people
This orb weaver very rarely bites and is not considered a danger to people.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Always shows four bold white spots on the abdomen, unlike the marbled or plain patterned abdomen of the marbled orbweaver, and builds its web much closer to the ground.
Questions
Is the Marbled orbweaver dangerous to people?
This orb weaver very rarely bites and is not considered a danger to people.
When can you see the Marbled orbweaver?
The Marbled orbweaver can be seen from June to October, by day and at night.
Plate retouched from a museum specimen photo by Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns, CC BY 4.0, GBIF Licence
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Spiders›Orb-weaver spiders›Araneus
Last updated 2026-09-27. Every entry is checked against published sources.