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Alpaida veniliae

Alpaida veniliae

(Keyserling, 1865)
Araña Tejedora Naranja

Family: Araneidae
Order: Araneae
Class: Arachnida
Phylum / Division: Arthropoda
Kingdom: Animalia

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Records from Santo Tomé


Description


Belongs to a specialized group of orb-weaving spiders within the family Araneidae, characterized by a highly pronounced sexual dimorphism where females are significantly larger than males, measuring between 8 and 12 millimeters in body length, while males rarely exceed 4 to 5 millimeters. The carapace displays a striking, glossy yellowish-orange coloration without conspicuous dark bands. The abdomen is elongated and oval, featuring a vibrant, diagnostic dorsal pattern composed of alternating longitudinal bands of bright yellow, neon green, and distinct black or dark green lateral lines that provide exceptional disruptive camouflage amidst foliage. Its legs are slender, decorated with prominent spines, and exhibit a translucent pale yellow or greenish coloration.

Geographical distribution: Occupies a vast range within the Neotropics. Its geographic distribution extends from northern South America, including Colombia, Venezuela, and the Guianas, through the Amazon basin of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, reaching south into major ecological zones of Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. It is particularly abundant in the biodiversity-rich ecosystems of the Cerrado and the Atlantic Forest.

Habitat: Prefers humid, tropical, and subtropical environments, primarily settling within the understory of primary and secondary forests, forest edges, riparian corridors, and wetlands. It also thrives in dense shrublands, tall grasslands, and forest clearings where sunlight penetration stimulates herbaceous growth. Due to its ecological plasticity, it regularly colonizes human-modified spaces such as organic crops, suburban gardens, and roadside vegetation.

Feeding: Sustains a strictly insectivorous diet, relying on passive capture via its orbicular webs. It preys upon a wide array of small to medium-sized flying insects, primarily targeting dipterans (flies and mosquitoes), hymenopterans (winged ants and small wasps), lepidopterans (moths), and occasionally small orthopterans that jump into the lower vegetation layer. Upon sensing web vibrations, it rapidly approaches the prey, injects a paralyzing venom combined with digestive enzymes, and wraps it in silk for immediate or subsequent consumption.

Behavior: Exhibits mostly diurnal and crepuscular activity patterns, spending considerable energy constructing and maintaining its web. The web is a classic, highly symmetrical, vertical or slightly inclined orb-web built at heights ranging from 50 to 150 centimeters above the ground. Unlike some related species, it frequently sits directly at the hub (center) of the web during daylight hours, relying on its disruptive coloration for defense, though it may also construct a small silk retreat under nearby leaves. It displays web-recycling behavior, regularly consuming its old web to reabsorb essential proteins before spinning a new one.

Reproduction: Initiates its reproductive cycle with a complex and hazardous courtship ritual performed by the significantly smaller male. To prevent sexual cannibalism, the male approaches the female´s web cautiously, transmitting specific, rhythmic vibrations through the signal threads. Following successful copulation, the female produces one or more egg clutches, wrapping them in a dense, protective, whitish or yellowish silk egg sac (cocoon). This sac is carefully anchored to the underside of broad leaves or hidden within nearby foliage to shield the developing offspring from parasitoid wasps and weather extremes. Upon hatching, the spiderlings disperse using ballooning, releasing silk threads to catch wind currents.

Conservation status: Has not been formally evaluated by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), currently classified as Not Evaluated (NE). Due to its extensive geographical distribution, relative abundance, and high tolerance to moderate habitat disturbance, its populations are considered stable. Nonetheless, localized populations face threats from agricultural expansion, large-scale burning, and the widespread application of chemical pesticides, which decimate both the spiders and their prey base.



Compilation and publication: EcoRegistros – 08/08/2026




Geographic distribution


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Species photographs

Last published photographs

Foto
Photography ID: 491282
 
Santo Tomé
Santa Fe
Argentina
03/16/2018
Eduardo Beltrocco
Foto
Photography ID: 463865
  Adult

Santo Tomé
Santa Fe
Argentina
03/21/2016
Eduardo Beltrocco
Foto
Photography ID: 463769
  Adult

Santo Tomé
Santa Fe
Argentina
02/28/2017
Eduardo Beltrocco
Foto
Photography ID: 463618
  Adult

Santo Tomé
Santa Fe
Argentina
03/20/2017
Eduardo Beltrocco
Foto
Photography ID: 462673
  Adult

Santo Tomé
Santa Fe
Argentina
08/24/2017
Eduardo Beltrocco
Foto
Photography ID: 462672
  Adult

Santo Tomé
Santa Fe
Argentina
08/23/2017
Eduardo Beltrocco
Foto
Photography ID: 448951
  Adult

Santo Tomé
Santa Fe
Argentina
01/26/2017
Eduardo Beltrocco
Foto
Photography ID: 391812
  Adult

Santo Tomé
Santa Fe
Argentina
03/30/2019
Leila Lodi
Foto
Photography ID: 391567
  Adult

Santo Tomé
Santa Fe
Argentina
01/27/2017
Eduardo Beltrocco
Foto
Photography ID: 391174
  Adult

Santo Tomé
Santa Fe
Argentina
02/06/2020
Eduardo Beltrocco
Foto
Photography ID: 381591
 
Santo Tomé
Santa Fe
Argentina
02/06/2020
Eduardo Beltrocco
Foto
Photography ID: 374950
  Adult

Santo Tomé
Santa Fe
Argentina
01/12/2020
Eduardo Beltrocco



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 Detail of places sorted by number of records








Page 1
Record IDDateExact timeCountryProvince / departmentPlaceFilmedPhotographedRecorded vocalObservedHeardWounded or deadNumber of individualsUser or BibliographyDetail
119155106/02/2020ArgentinaSanta FeMitre entre Balcarce y Arenales, Santo ToméEduardo Beltrocco
123666012/01/2020ArgentinaSanta FeArea Natural Protegida Laguna Juan de Garay (ex Bedetti), Santo ToméLeila Lodi
117055512/01/2020ArgentinaSanta FeArea Natural Protegida Laguna Juan de Garay (ex Bedetti), Santo ToméEduardo Beltrocco
115204915/12/2019ArgentinaSanta FeHumedal lindante al Rio Salado, Santo Tomé2Eduardo Beltrocco
115151013/10/2019ArgentinaSanta FeCostanera (iriondo y skate), Santo Tomé3Eduardo Beltrocco
123134630/03/2019ArgentinaSanta FeSarmiento y Centenario, Santo ToméLeila Lodi
157388016/03/2018ArgentinaSanta FeAvenida Luján, entre Gaboto y Colón, Santo ToméEduardo Beltrocco
146410224/08/2017ArgentinaSanta FeAvenida Luján, entre Gaboto y Colón, Santo ToméEduardo Beltrocco
146409923/08/2017ArgentinaSanta FeSarmiento y Centenario, Santo ToméEduardo Beltrocco
146776920/03/2017ArgentinaSanta FeAvenida Luján, entre Gaboto y Colón, Santo ToméEduardo Beltrocco
Page 1

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Recommended citation
Please use the following reference when citing this species account.
EcoRegistros. 2026. Alpaida veniliae – Species account. Accessed from www.ecoregistros.org on 25/09/2026.