Neoscona theisi

Neoscona theisi is a species of spider in the family Araneidae.^[1][2] Spiders in the genus Neoscona have a mostly pantropical distribution.^[3]

Neoscona theisi
In Cairns, Australia
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Araneidae
Genus:	Neoscona
Species:	N. theisi
Binomial name
Neoscona theisi Walckenaer, 1841

Description

Neoscona theisi females have a body length up to 11 mm (0.43 in). Males are slightly smaller, measuring up to 9 mm (0.35 in).^[3] They build an orb web and rest near the centre.^[4] Individuals vary in color from dark reddish-brown to pale-yellow with a distinct pattern on the upper abdomen, lighter along the centre-line and darker on the sides. The legs are light with dark patches at the joints. The sternum is a dark shield shape with a pale yellow longitudinal stripe mid-line. The sternum contrasts with the pale coxa of the nearest leg joints.

There is a characteristic longitudinal groove on the carapace which separates all species of Neoscona from species of Araneus.^[5][6]

Illustration of Neoscona theisi, Walckenaer, 1841

Gallery

• 
  Male dorsal
• 
  Male ventral
• 
  Female dorsal
• 
  Female ventral

References

1. "Atlas of Living Australia". CSIRO. 2018. Retrieved 2018-04-12.
2. "Australian Biodiversity Resources Study". Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 2018-04-12.
3. Whyte, Robert; Anderson, Greg (2017). A Field Guide to Spiders of Australia. Clayton South Vic. 3169: CSIRO publishing. p. 74. ISBN 9780643107076.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
4. Alam, Imtiaz; Butt, Abida (2016-08-14). "A Study of web structure of Neoscona theisi (Araneae:Araneidae) under Field Conditions". Oriental Insects. 50 (4). Taylor&Francis Online: 151–159. doi:10.1080/00305316.2016.1217496. S2CID 89003925. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
5. "University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum". University of Arkansas. University of Arkansas. 2020. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
6. Bergman, J.D.; Levi, H.W. (1971). "The orb weaver genus Neoscona in North America (Araneae:Araneidae)". Biodiversity Heritage Library. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College. Retrieved 2020-04-14.