Araneus nox

Why in news?

A recent survey at the Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary has reports the first record of the spider species Araneus nox in India.

• Araneus nox – Also known as the Leathery Garden Orb-weaver, is a species of orb-weaving spider.
• Family – Araneidae.
• First documented – In 1877 by French arachnologist Eugène Simon from Basilan in the Philippines.

Arachnology is the scientific study of arachnids, which are a diverse group of invertebrates that includes spiders, scorpions, mites, ticks, and harvestmen.

• Distribution – Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, and other parts of Southeast Asia including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
• 1^st time in India – It was recently recorded in India for the first time during a 2025 survey in the Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala (1^st time that both male and female specimens have been identified from India).
• It typically builds its webs at heights ranging from waist-level to about 7 feet.
• Habitat – Commonly found in gardens, forests, and backyards around the world.
• Appearance – A small to medium-sized orb-weaver with a distinctively textured, leathery abdomen.
• Its coloration can vary from light brown to jet black, sometimes featuring clusters of light brown bristles (setae) on the abdomen's sides.
• Web – This spider is known for spinning near-perfect, vertically oriented circular web on vegetation and tree branches.
• Behavior – Like other species in the genus Araneus, the Araneus nox constructs an orb-shaped web to catch flying insects.
• Risks – The venom of Araneus species varies in toxicity, but bites from these spiders are not considered dangerous to humans.

References

1. The Hindu | 1^st record of the spider species Araneus nox in India
2. Spider net | Araneus nox