Plants that Araneus pratensis, openfield orbweaver, were found on at Barnes Prairie Remnants, Racine Co., WI. 2020-2022

Araneus pratensis, a small, colorful orbweaver, was most easily found by me on southeastern Wisconsin tallgrass prairie remnants in late summer. Most of the spiders observed were located relatively close together, within a 15 acre area. I have been documenting these spiders on the remnant prairies and adjacent fields beginning in 1990. Summaries of plants these spiders were found on during the last three years are listed below.
Date Plants webs were attached to/comments

Sept. 21, 2020 Web attached to goldenrod sp. Flowers

Sept. 1, 2021 Web attached to common milkweed leaves

Sept. 4, 2022 Web attached to grasses

Sept. 13, 2022 Web on common milkweed leaves

Sept. 13, 2022 Web on grasses

Sept. 13, 2022 Spider on grass leaf

Sept. 14, 2022 Web on grasses

Oct. 4, 2022 Spider on common milkweed leaf

Oct. 4, 2022 Spider on common milkweed seed pod

Posted on January 30, 2023 08:12 PM by bkis