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Humpback Orbweaver

Eustala anastera

Photo by dferris
Published on Project Noah
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44.0986, -95.6847

Field Notes

Description:

Small gray spider with a large yellow abdomen

Habitat:

Found on an ash tree after being cut down. Group of Ash growing in tall grass prairie

Notes:

Would scurry across tree, stop and tuck legs under abdomen.
From research, I believe it is a member of the genus Eustala, however the color does not match any of the species.

Reference Links:

Eustala - Eustala anastera - BugGuide.Net

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)
ForestDragon
Nice detective work! It looks like you found it. :-)
dferris
ForestDragon, I think it looks more like Humpbacked Orbweaver (Eustala anastera) http://bugguide.net/node/view/154582
dferris
It does bear some resemblance to the the Giant Lichen Orbweaver, but this spider was much smaller. I guess it is possible that it could be a smaller color varied form, I don't really know enough about spiders to be sure.
ForestDragon
This reminds me a lot of the Giant Lichen Orbweaver, Araneus bicentenarius, but more yellow. I wonder if it's a color variation. http://bugguide.net/node/view/2018

Spotted for Missions

Mission
International Spider Survey
Mission
Mimetic Animals of the World
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Minnesota Wildlife (Animals)
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Mission WILD
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National Geographic's Great Nature Project
Photographed
PublishedJune 27, 2014

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