About Araneus quadratus Clerck, 1757
Araneus quadratus, commonly called the four-spot orb-weaver, is a common orb-weaver spider native to Europe and Central Asia, with its range extending as far east as the Kamchatka Peninsula and Japan. Mature females reach up to 17 mm in body length, particularly when gravid, while males are roughly half that size. This species displays wide variation in body color, ranging from brown to bright orange or green, but always has four distinct characteristic white spots on the abdomen. Darker color morphs are easier to identify because of the strong contrast between the white spots and the rest of the body. The legs of four-spot orb-weavers sometimes have bright, distinct stripes. These spiders live in gardens, wooded areas, and any location with vegetation suitable for stringing an orb web. This species builds its orb web close to the ground to catch jumping insects like small grasshoppers. Females build more elaborate webs, which include a funnel-shaped retreat on the side that the female uses during bad weather. The webs of Araneus quadratus are smaller and positioned closer to the ground than the webs of other orb-weaver species. Adult female four-spot orb-weavers can actively change their body color. It takes approximately three days for them to develop a new color that accurately matches the surface they rest on.
