Araneus gemmoides, catface spider (62895 bytes)

Cat-Face Spider

By Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension, Entomology

One of the most common but unusual spiders people encounter late in the season is the cat-face spider, Araneus gemmoides.  It tends to make its webs near lights and in corners along the outside of buildings.  Full-grown females can be quite large and have a combination of odd projections on the abdomen as well as dark indentation markings that some say resemble the ears and eyes of a cat.

Despite their large size and bizarre appearance, cat-face spiders are harmless to humans.

Photo: Linda Cantrill

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