Impressive araneid from Houston, Texas, USA => Eriophora ravilla

[Frits Broekhuis]

This was a rather large spider KL ~ 12mm in a very large web (~ 1m across), found in a suburban garden. I think it looks like the tropical orb weaver Eriophora ravilla. Do you agree?

[2017-01-02-a]

[Jonathan Neumann]

Hallo Frits,

not sure how variable it is.. In one south african spider group on facebook I follow these araneids are always entitled as "hairy field spider Neoscona sp.", so I think that lady could belong to Neoscona as well.

EDIT: Checking Bugguide and there are several specimen which are fitting your colour morph, uniformly brown with yellow shoulders: http://bugguide.net/node/view/24094/

Seems so that you have nailed it, especially as the coloured shoulders are mentioned in the description!
Check images for much more footages...

LG,
Jonathan

[Tobias]

Levi describes E. ravilla as very variable and shows several color morphs. Since E. fuliginea is not recorded in the U.S., I think your ID should be right.

Tobias