Dachi Mtchedlishvili · Lagodekhi Georgia field photo
Risk to humans
HarmlessNo medical venom risk
No medically significant venom. Do not pick it up anyway — watch it and leave it where it is.
Key facts in one look
- Diet
- Insects in the web
- Status in Georgia
- Confirmed
- Size
- Female 10–22.5 mm
- Habitat
- Garden / edge / meadow
- Family
- Araneidae
- Human risk
- Harmless
The European garden spider (Araneus diadematus) is easiest to recognise by the white, cross-shaped pattern on the upper side of its abdomen. It builds a large, round web. Its colour is quite variable: it may be yellowish, brown, reddish or almost black, so look at the cross rather than the colour. Females are much larger than males: a female's body is about 10–22.5 mm long, a male's 4–11 mm. The species is confirmed in Georgia. A published specimen comes from Mitarbi near Bakuriani, a mountain meadow at about 1,500 m. It is also listed in the updated spider checklist of Lagodekhi Reserve. It has not been assessed on the global Red List and is not included in Georgia's 2014 Red List. It has venom, but uses it to subdue prey. It is not considered a serious threat to human health. Bites are also rare. The spider belongs to the family Araneidae. In English it is known as the European garden spider, cross spider and cross orb-weaver. In Georgian, the word ჯვრიანა also appears in the name of another animal.
Identification
European garden spider: how to identify it
The European garden spider is a medium to large spider that builds a round web. Its main mark is a white cross-shaped pattern on the upper side of the abdomen, which is often clearly visible. The legs are ringed, and females are much larger than males. Body colour varies, so look for the cross first, not the colour.
The female is much larger than the male. Not counting the legs, her body is about 10–22.5 mm long, while the male's is 4–11 mm. She has a larger, rounder abdomen, and the male is comparatively slim.
The white cross-shaped mark on the upper side of the abdomen is usually easy to see. It is one of the main features for recognising this species. Body colour, by contrast, is highly variable: it may be pale yellowish, brown, reddish or almost black. So when identifying it, look at the cross first, not the colour.
Its legs are distinctly ringed. The abdomen is slightly angular at the front and widest around the front third.
It builds a large, round web. It is often found in gardens, on forest edges and in other places with plants. The spider may sit right in the centre of the web, so when you spot a web like this, look at its middle.
The main mark of the European garden spider is the white cross-shaped pattern on the upper side of its abdomen. The wasp spider stands out with yellow-and-black cross-bands, and its web often shows a white zigzag. The lobed argiope is recognised by the clear bulges along the sides of its abdomen. The garden spider has neither these bands nor the side bulges, so look for the white cross first.
The European garden spider lives in gardens, shrubland, forest edges, meadows and other places with plants. In these places it builds a large, round web. It often stretches the web between plants, branches or fences. In Georgia, the most precise published record comes from Mitarbi. This is a mountain meadow near Bakuriani, at about 1,500 m. The species is also confirmed in the spider list of Lagodekhi Reserve. Still, this does not mean the European garden spider occurs evenly across all of Georgia's habitats and elevations.
The European garden spider map combines Reptiles.ge editorial photo records with public iNaturalist observations. Regions are taken from the records-by-region table, and only regions with enough records are shaded on the map.
Data: Reptiles.ge + iNaturalist · Methodology
- Field observation
- Several records in one spot
- Photo record
- Region with records
The European garden spider feeds on insects and other small arthropods caught in its web. It does not chase its prey. Instead, it sits in the web and waits for a small animal flying nearby or crawling over plants to get caught. It then secures the catch with silk and subdues it with venom.
In Europe, adults are especially easy to see from summer into autumn. In Georgia, a specimen was collected at Mitarbi on 21 July. Females lay their eggs in a silk sac, and the young spiders disperse the following season. Adult females often sit in the centre of the web and feel through the vibrating threads when prey has been caught. When disturbed, the spider may hide or shake its web. It does not try to attack people.
The European garden spider has not been assessed on the global Red List, and it is not included in Georgia's 2014 Red List. There is no need to catch a wild spider or move it elsewhere. If the web is not in your way, it is best to leave it where it is. In the wild, it is widespread: Europe, Turkey, the Middle East, the Caucasus, much of Russia, Iran, Central Asia, China and Japan. In North America it is considered introduced. Its current scientific name is Araneus diadematus.
Gocha Nemsadze · Dachi Mtchedlishvili · Davit Tabashidze · Giorgi Natsvlishvili · Andreas Manz
Yes. The European garden spider has been confirmed in Georgia. A specimen was found at Mitarbi, near Bakuriani, at about 1,500 m, and this record has been published. It is also on the updated list of spiders of Lagodekhi Reserve.
In general, Araneus diadematus lives in gardens, forest edges, shrubland and meadows. The most precise published record from Georgia comes from Mitarbi, a mountain meadow near Bakuriani at about 1,500 m. The spider is also confirmed in the spider list of Lagodekhi Reserve.
Look at the upper side of the abdomen. The European garden spider often has a clear white cross-shaped pattern there. Body colour may vary from pale yellowish to dark brown, reddish or almost black. Whatever the colour, the white cross is usually still visible. So when identifying it, look for the cross first, not the colour.
The female's body is about 10–22.5 mm long. The male is smaller, with a body length of 4–11 mm. These measurements do not include the legs, so with its legs spread the spider looks larger.
Yes, like most spiders, it has venom. It uses this venom to subdue its prey. For people, however, it is not considered a serious health risk.
As a rule, no. Bites are rare and mostly happen when the spider is picked up, pressed or accidentally disturbed. If you develop strong or unusual symptoms after a bite, call 112.
In the warm season. That is when adults, especially females, are easiest to see. The published specimen from Mitarbi was also collected in July.
The European garden spider has not been assessed on the global Red List. It is not included in Georgia's 2014 Red List either.
References
What this profile is based on
Species profiles are compiled from peer-reviewed literature and established biodiversity databases, and are reviewed as new taxonomic and conservation data become available.
Prepared by the Reptiles.ge editorial team from the sources listed here.
