Cross Orb Weaver
Reviewed by TJ, ACE Certified Technician · Updated 2026-06-15
Araneus diadematus | Category: Spiders | The classic garden wheel-web spider
The Cross Orb Weaver is the plump brown spider that builds those beautiful wheel-shaped webs across your garden path each fall. The white cross pattern on its abdomen gives it the name, and its web-building skill has made it one of the most-studied spiders in the world. Cross Orb Weavers are outdoor spiders, not house residents. They are also completely harmless to humans and are effective predators of flying garden pests. This page will help you identify them and understand why we usually recommend leaving them where they are.
| Size | Females 0.25 to 0.75 in body; males smaller |
|---|---|
| Color | Brown to reddish-brown with white cross on back |
| Top ID Marker | White cross pattern on abdomen, wheel web |
| Habitat | Gardens, porches, eaves, between shrubs (outdoors) |
| Web | Classic wheel-shaped orb, rebuilt daily |
| Bite Risk | Not medically significant |
| Plan Coverage | ✓ Covered under All Seasons Pest Plan |
Need help with this pest?
Get A QuoteQuick Answer: The Cross Orb Weaver (Araneus diadematus) is a common outdoor garden spider in the Pacific Northwest, named for the white cross-shaped pattern of dots on its abdomen. It builds classic wheel-shaped orb webs between shrubs, on porches, and around eaves. Cross Orb Weavers are not medically significant, and their webs are highly effective at capturing flying pests like mosquitoes, flies, and moths. They rarely enter homes, when they do it is accidental. They are also called European Garden Spiders since they were originally introduced from Europe.
Key facts at a glance: Body under 3/4 in · Brown with white cross · Wheel-shaped orb web · Outdoors · Not medically significant · Beneficial for gardens · Plan coverage: Yes.
Garden ally: A single Cross Orb Weaver can consume hundreds of mosquitoes, flies, and moths over a summer. If a web is not in a walking path, leaving it alone is usually the right call. Where webs are truly in the way, removing the web (with a broom) will typically cause the spider to rebuild in a less inconvenient spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Cross Orb Weavers dangerous?
No. They are not medically significant. They almost never bite humans, they retreat when disturbed.
Why is there a huge web across my walkway?
Late summer and fall are peak orb-weaver season. Cross Orb Weavers rebuild their web every day. If you walk through one, the spider will likely build a new one in the same spot overnight.
Does removing the web hurt the spider?
No. Cross Orb Weavers naturally rebuild their web daily. Sweeping down a web sends the spider looking for a new location.
How long do Cross Orb Weavers live?
About one year. Females hatch in spring, mature over summer, mate and lay eggs in fall, then die at first frost.
Do they come inside?
Rarely. Cross Orb Weavers are outdoor spiders and cannot survive long indoors.
Does the All Seasons Plan cover them?
Yes. Exterior web sweeping and treatment around eaves, porches, and entryways is covered.
Signs You Have Cross Orb Weavers
Cross Orb Weavers make themselves obvious through their webs. These are the most identifiable spider webs in North America:
1. Wheel-shaped web outdoors
A perfect wheel-shaped web strung between plants, on a porch, or spanning a walkway is a Cross Orb Weaver web. These are the classic Halloween-decoration spider webs.
2. Plump spider in web center
During the day the spider often sits head-down at the center of its web, waiting for prey. The plump round abdomen with the white cross pattern confirms ID.
3. Rebuilt web overnight
Cross Orb Weavers eat their old web at dusk (recycling the silk) and rebuild fresh overnight. A destroyed web that reappears the next morning is diagnostic.
4. Under-eave silk retreats
During cold or windy weather the spider retreats to a silk cell tucked under eaves, siding, or a nearby leaf. Look for a small silk pocket at the end of a signal thread leading to the web.
5. Fall population explosion
Cross Orb Weavers are small and hidden most of the year, then become dramatically visible in late summer and fall when females reach full size and build large webs.
6. Round silk egg sacs on siding
In fall, females lay round tan silk egg sacs on siding, under eaves, and in sheltered corners. These overwinter, spiderlings emerge in spring.
Behavior, Biology & Lifecycle
European origin
Introduced to North America centuries ago, Cross Orb Weavers are now widespread across the continent. In the PNW they are one of the most common outdoor spiders.
Engineering marvels
An orb web contains up to 60 feet of silk and takes about an hour to build. The spider uses different silk types for different parts, sticky spiral for capture, non-sticky radials for structure, and reinforced anchor lines.
Daily silk recycling
Each evening the spider eats its old web, recovering the amino acids in the silk, and produces a new web overnight. This cycle continues throughout the spider\’s adult life.
Signal thread system
A signal thread leads from the web center to a hidden retreat. The spider stays in the retreat and feels vibrations through the thread, only running out when prey hits the web.
Prey specialization
Orb webs are optimized for flying prey, mosquitoes, moths, flies, and beetles. In a garden setting, a single mature female can consume hundreds of pest insects across her lifetime.
One-year lifespan
Cross Orb Weavers live one year. Eggs overwinter in silk sacs, hatch in spring, spiders grow through summer, mate and lay eggs in fall, then adults die at first frost.
DIY Homeowner Steps
Sweep webs regularly
Funnel webs get rebuilt fast if the spider is still there. Sweeping every week or two along basement corners and crawl space edges is very effective for keeping populations down.
Reduce ground-level clutter
Bag stored items in sealed plastic, elevate boxes off the floor in basements and crawl spaces. Cross Orb Weavers hide in ground clutter and cardboard.
Seal entry gaps at foundation level
Weather stripping on doors, screens on crawl space vents, caulk around utility penetrations. Cross Orb Weavers enter through the same low gaps mice and ants do.
Shake out shoes and gloves stored in garage
If you have not touched something in weeks, a Cross Orb Weaver may have moved in. The rare bite happens when a spider is trapped against skin, usually when someone puts on a stored item.
Vacuum sightings, then dispose
A shop vac with a long hose is the safest removal method. Empty the vac outside immediately after. Do not attempt to handle a Cross Orb Weaver by hand.
Cross Orb Weaver vs. Other Outdoor PNW Spiders
Orb-web spiders are distinctive because of their webs. Here is how the Cross Orb Weaver compares to the others you may see outside:
| Feature | Cross Orb Weaver | Yellow Garden Spider | Hobo Spider | Wolf Spider |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web type | Wheel orb | Wheel orb with zigzag | Flat funnel | None |
| Color | Brown with white cross | Yellow and black | Brown, herringbone | Grey-brown, hairy |
| Where you find it | Gardens, porches, eaves | Tall grass, meadows | Basements, ground level | Ground level |
| Body shape | Round, plump | Round, plump | Elongated | Compact, hairy |
| Time of year most visible | Late summer to fall | Late summer to fall | Fall | Fall |
| Bite risk | Not medically significant | Not medically significant | Not medically significant | Not medically significant |
Plans That Cover Cross Orb Weaver Control
All Seasons Pest Plan
$39/month
Setup fee ~$260 for initial treatment
Year-round protection from the pests Pacific Northwest homeowners deal with most, including spider control, exterior web removal, and harborage treatment.
- Recurring exterior treatments
- Exterior web removal with every visit
- Free re-service between visits
Pest & Rodent Bundle
$47/month
Setup fee ~$280 for initial treatment
The most complete protection for your home. Full pest coverage plus active rodent monitoring, one plan, one team, one less thing to worry about.
- Everything in Pest & Rodent plans
- Best value for whole-home protection
- Free re-service guarantee
What Our Customers Are Saying