Silver Spiders in Colorado

Members of the order Araneae, spiders are highly adapted invertebrates living in different habitats across the world. Although most species are brown to black, spiders show various body colors and patterns, including metallic green, bright red and yellow and in rare occasions silver. In Colorado, silver spiders are also rare, but members of the genera Argiope, Tetragnatha, Leucauge and Calisoga showing silvery body and marking are found in the state.
  1. Argiope

    • Only found in southern areas of Colorado, the silver argiope (Argiope argentata) shows a silver body with orange and brown markings. Like other species of the genus Argiope, females are generally larger than males and build their orb webs adding some zigzag lines, which are called stabilimenta. The function of such structure is not totally understood yet, but it can increase the web's strength.

    Tetragnatha

    • Tetragnatha spiders are long jawed spiders found across the United Kingdom and North America, including Colorado. Colors vary according to species, from cream, yellow and brown to silver. These spiders are small and have elongated bodies and long legs. Tetragnatha spiders are orb web weaver and feed on small insects, such as mosquitoes and midges.

    Leucauge

    • Also called orchard spiders some species of the genus Leucauge show silver and orange patterns on their backs, but only females have such colorful markings. Leucage spiders are long-jawed orbweavers. More than 20 species are found in North America, often in grassy and wooden areas. Leucage venusta is among the species living in Colorado.

    Calisoga

    • Although more common in California, Calisoga spiders are also found in western areas of Colorado. Also called Brachythele and often mistaken for tarantulas, the genus includes three species found in north America, some of them showing silver bodies. Calisoga spiders are big, have short hairs covering their body and can reach up to 1.2 inches in body length.

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