View source for Neoscona

{{Short description|Genus of spiders}}
{{Automatic taxobox
|image=Neoscona adianta 1.jpg
|image_caption=''[[Neoscona adianta]]'' in Belgium
|taxon=Neoscona
|authority=E. Simon, 1864<ref>{{citation |title=Gen. ''Neoscona'' Simon, 1864 |website=World Spider Catalog Version 16.5 |url=http://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/genusdetail/365 |access-date=2015-09-18}}</ref>
|type_species=''[[Neoscona arabesca|N. arabesca]]''
|type_species_authority=([[Charles Athanase Walckenaer|Walckenaer]], 1841)
|subdivision_ranks=Species
|subdivision=123, [[#Species|see text]]
|synonyms=
*''Afraranea'' <small>Archer, 1951</small><ref name=Gras1986>{{cite journal|last=Grasshoff|first=M.|year=1986|title=Die Radnetzspinnen-Gattung Neoscona in Afrika (Arachnida: Araneae)|journal=Annalen Zoologische Wetenschappen|volume=250|page=4}}</ref>
*''Chinestela'' <small>Chamberlin, 1924</small><ref name=Arch1958>{{cite journal|last=Archer|first=A. F.|year=1958|title=Studies in the orbweaving spiders (Argiopidae). 4|journal=American Museum Novitates|issue=1922|page=17}}</ref>
*''Cubanella'' <small>Franganillo, 1926</small><ref name=Berm1971>{{cite journal|last1=Berman|first1=J. D.|last2=Levi|first2=H. W.|year=1971|title=The orb weaver genus Neoscona in North America (Araneae: Araneidae)|journal=Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology|volume=141|page=469}}</ref><ref name=Brya1940>{{cite journal|last=Bryant|first=E. B.|year=1940|title=Cuban spiders in the Museum of Comparative Zoology|journal=Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology|volume=86|page=511}}</ref>
|synonyms_ref=<ref name=NMBE />
}}

'''''Neoscona''''', known as '''spotted orb-weavers''' and '''barn spiders''',<ref name=bugguide>{{cite web|title=Genus Neoscona|publisher=BugGuide|access-date=2019-05-14|url=https://bugguide.net/node/view/1991}}</ref> is a [[genus]] of [[Araneidae|orb-weaver spiders]] (Araneidae) first described by [[Eugène Simon]] in 1895 to separate these from other araneids in the now obsolete genus ''[[Araneus#Taxonomic history|Epeira]]''. The name ''Neoscona'' was derived from the [[Greek language|Greek]] {{lang|grc|νέω}}, meaning "spin", and {{lang|grc|σχοῖνος}}, meaning "[[reed (plant)|reed]]".<ref name=Simo1895>{{cite book|last=Simon|first=E|year=1895|title=Histoire naturelle des araignées|publisher=Paris, Librairie encyclopédique de Roret|doi=10.5962/bhl.title.51973|url=https://archive.org/stream/histoirenaturell00sim#page/261/mode/1up}}</ref> They have a mostly [[pantropical]] distribution and one species, ''[[Neoscona adianta]]'', has a [[palearctic]] distribution.<ref name=NMBE /> The genus has more than 100 species (see below), eight of which can be found in the United States and Canada as of April 2019.<ref name=bugguide />

==Description==
''Neoscona'' species are among the most common spiders in North America and are found throughout most parts of the world.<ref name=BergmanLevi>{{cite book|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4753653#page/500/mode/1up|title=The orb weaver genus Neoscona in North America (Araneae:Araneidae) |last1=Bergman |first1=J.D. |last2=Levi |first2=H.W. |date=1971|via=Biodiversity Heritage Library|volume=141 |publisher=Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College|access-date=2020-04-14}}</ref> There are large variations in the dorsal patterns and coloration of the abdomen, even in a single species. Most have a light color with wavy edges along the mid-line, and darker swirls either side of that. Ventral abdominal patterns may consist of a dark area bordered by white, roughly forming a square. In adults the pattern can be faded. The venter of the abdomen is dark bordered on the sides by white spots.<ref name=BergmanLevi/>
''Neoscona'' can be difficult to distinguish from species of ''[[Araneus]]'' without close examination of the [[carapace]]. ''Neoscona'' have a characteristic [[Glossary of spider terms#fovea|dorsal groove]] on the [[carapace]] that is parallel with the long axis of the body. The dorsal grooves of ''Araneus'' are transverse or angular, though they are sometimes so small that they appear as dimples on the [[Anatomical terms of location#Dorsal and ventral|dorsal]] surface.<ref name=bugguide/> With the leg arrangement, the first are the longest, the second are second longest and the third are the shortest. The largest eyes are the anterior medians, next or subequal are posterior medians and the secondary eyes are slightly smaller. The webs are usually vertical with about twenty radii and an open hub at the centre. Some species have been recorded as retreating to a leaf during the day.<ref name=BergmanLevi/>

==Species==
{{as of|2019|04}} there are 123 species worldwide:<ref name=NMBE>{{cite web|title=Gen. Neoscona Simon, 1864|website=World Spider Catalog|access-date=2019-05-14|publisher=Natural History Museum Bern|url=http://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/genus/365}}</ref>
{{Columns-list|colwidth=35em|
*''[[Neoscona achine|N. achine]]'' <small>(Simon, 1906)</small> – India, China
*''[[Neoscona adianta|N. adianta]]'' <small>(Walckenaer, 1802)</small> – Europe, North Africa to Central Asia, Russia (Europe to Far East), China, Korea, Japan
**''[[Neoscona adianta|Neoscona a. persecta]]'' <small>(Schenkel, 1936)</small> – China
*''[[Neoscona alberti|N. alberti]]'' <small>([[Embrik Strand|Strand]], 1913)</small> – Central, Southern Africa
*''[[Neoscona albertoi|N. albertoi]]'' <small>Barrion-Dupo, 2008</small> – Philippines
*''[[Neoscona aldinei|N. aldinei]]'' <small>Barrion-Dupo, 2008</small> – Philippines
*''[[Neoscona amamiensis|N. amamiensis]]'' <small>Tanikawa, 1998</small> – Japan
*''[[Neoscona ampoyae|N. ampoyae]]'' <small>Barrion-Dupo, 2008</small> – Philippines
*''[[Neoscona angulatula|N. angulatula]]'' <small>(Schenkel, 1937)</small> – Madagascar, Seychelles (Aldabra), Kenya
*''[[Neoscona arabesca|N. arabesca]]'' <small>(Walckenaer, 1841)</small> – North America (across the United States and Canada), Central America, Caribbean
*''[[Neoscona bengalensis|N. bengalensis]]'' <small>[[B. K. Tikader|Tikader]] & Bal, 1981</small> – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh
*''[[Neoscona bihumpi|N. bihumpi]]'' <small>Patel, 1988</small> – India
*''[[Neoscona biswasi|N. biswasi]]'' <small>Bhandari & Gajbe, 2001</small> – India
*''[[Neoscona blondeli|N. blondeli]]'' <small>(Simon, 1886)</small> – Africa
*''[[Neoscona bomdilaensis|N. bomdilaensis]]'' <small>Biswas & Biswas, 2006</small> – India
*''[[Neoscona bucheti|N. bucheti]]'' <small>(Lessert, 1930)</small> – Congo
**''[[Neoscona bucheti|Neoscona b. avakubiensis]]'' <small>(Lessert, 1930)</small> – Congo
**''[[Neoscona bucheti|Neoscona b. flexuosa]]'' <small>(Lessert, 1930)</small> – Congo, Yemen
*''[[Neoscona byzanthina|N. byzanthina]]'' <small>(Pavesi, 1876)</small> – France, Turkey
*''[[Neoscona cereolella|N. cereolella]]'' <small>(Strand, 1907)</small> – Congo, East Africa, Madagascar
**''[[Neoscona cereolella|Neoscona c. setaceola]]'' <small>(Strand, 1913)</small> – Central Africa
*''[[Neoscona cheesmanae|N. cheesmanae]]'' <small>([[Lucien Berland|Berland]], 1938)</small> – Vanuatu
*''[[Neoscona chiarinii|N. chiarinii]]'' <small>(Pavesi, 1883)</small> – West, Central, East Africa
*''[[Neoscona chongzuoensis|N. chongzuoensis]]'' <small>Zhang & Zhang, 2011</small> – China
*''[[Neoscona chrysanthusi|N. chrysanthusi]]'' <small>Tikader & Bal, 1981</small> – Bhutan, India, Pakistan
*''[[Neoscona crucifera|N. crucifera]]'' <small>(Lucas, 1838)</small> – North America (Southwest Northeast USA and Canada); introduced to Hawaii, Canary Is., Madeira
*''[[Neoscona decolor|N. decolor]]'' <small>([[Ludwig Carl Christian Koch|L. Koch]], 1871)</small> – Australia (New South Wales, Victoria), Fiji
*''[[Neoscona dhruvai|N. dhruvai]]'' <small>Patel & Nigam, 1994</small> – India
*''[[Neoscona dhumani|N. dhumani]]'' <small>Patel & Reddy, 1993</small> – India
*''[[Neoscona domiciliorum|N. domiciliorum]]'' <small>([[Nicholas Marcellus Hentz|Hentz]], 1847)</small> – Eastern to midwestern USA
*''[[Neoscona dostinikea|N. dostinikea]]'' <small>Barrion & Litsinger, 1995</small> – Philippines
*''[[Neoscona dyali|N. dyali]]'' <small>Gajbe, 2004</small> – India
*''[[Neoscona enucleata|N. enucleata]]'' <small>([[Ferdinand Karsch|Karsch]], 1879)</small> – India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Sumatra
*''[[Neoscona facundoi|N. facundoi]]'' <small>Barrion-Dupo, 2008</small> – Philippines
*''[[Neoscona flavescens|N. flavescens]]'' <small>Zhang & Zhang, 2011</small> – China
*''[[Neoscona flavopunctata|N. flavopunctata]]'' <small>(L. Koch, 1871)</small> – Fiji
*''[[Neoscona floriata|N. floriata]]'' <small>([[Henry Roughton Hogg|Hogg]], 1914)</small> – Indonesia (West Papua)
*''[[Neoscona goliath|N. goliath]]'' <small>(Benoit, 1963)</small> – Ivory Coast
*''[[Neoscona govindai|N. govindai]]'' <small>Biswas & Raychaudhuri, 2013</small> – Bangladesh
*''[[Neoscona granti|N. granti]]'' <small>(Hogg, 1914)</small> – New Guinea
*''[[Neoscona hirta|N. hirta]]'' <small>([[Ludwig Carl Christian Koch|C. L. Koch]], 1844)</small> – Central, Southern Africa
*''[[Neoscona holmi|N. holmi]]'' <small>(Schenkel, 1953)</small> – China, Korea
*''[[Neoscona huzaifi|N. huzaifi]]'' <small>Mukhtar, 2012</small> – Pakistan
*''[[Neoscona inusta|N. inusta]]'' <small>(L. Koch, 1871)</small> – Taiwan, China, Philippines, Indonesia (Sumatra) to Australia
*''[[Neoscona isatis|N. isatis]]''  <small>Zamani, Marusik & Šestáková, 2020</small> - Iran
*''[[Neoscona jindoensis|N. jindoensis]]'' <small>Kim, Lee & Ji, 2016</small> – Korea
*''[[Neoscona jinghongensis|N. jinghongensis]]'' <small>Yin, Wang, Xie & Peng, 1990</small> – China
*''[[Neoscona kabiri|N. kabiri]]'' <small>Biswas & Raychaudhuri, 2013</small> – Bangladesh
*''[[Neoscona kisangani|N. kisangani]]'' <small>Grasshoff, 1986</small> – Congo
*''[[Neoscona kivuensis|N. kivuensis]]'' <small>Grasshoff, 1986</small> – Congo
*''[[Neoscona kunmingensis|N. kunmingensis]]'' <small>Yin, Wang, Xie & Peng, 1990</small> – China
*''[[Neoscona lactea|N. lactea]]'' <small>(Saito, 1933)</small> – Taiwan
*''[[Neoscona leucaspis|N. leucaspis]]'' <small>(Schenkel, 1963)</small> – China
*''[[Neoscona lipana|N. lipana]]'' <small>Barrion-Dupo, 2008</small> – Philippines
*''[[Neoscona lotan|N. lotan]]'' <small>Levy, 2007</small> – Israel
*''[[Neoscona maculaticeps|N. maculaticeps]]'' <small>(L. Koch, 1871)</small> – Japan, Samoa
*''[[Neoscona marcanoi|N. marcanoi]]'' <small>[[Herbert Walter Levi|Levi]], 1993</small> – Cuba, Hispaniola
*''[[Neoscona mellotteei|N. mellotteei]]'' <small>(Simon, 1895)</small> – China, Korea, Taiwan, Japan
*''[[Neoscona menghaiensis|N. menghaiensis]]'' <small>Yin, Wang, Xie & Peng, 1990</small> – China
*''[[Neoscona molemensis|N. molemensis]]'' <small>Tikader & Bal, 1981</small> – Bangladesh, India to Philippines, Indonesia
*''[[Neoscona moreli|N. moreli]]'' <small>(Vinson, 1863)</small> – Africa, Madagascar, Seychelles, Réunion, Mauritius. Introduced to the Caribbean, Colombia, Venezuela to Argentina
*''[[Neoscona mukerjei|N. mukerjei]]'' <small>Tikader, 1980</small> – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh
*''[[Neoscona multiplicans|N. multiplicans]]'' <small>([[Ralph Vary Chamberlin|Chamberlin]], 1924)</small> – China, Korea, Japan
*''[[Neoscona murthyi|N. murthyi]]'' <small>Patel & Reddy, 1990</small> – India
*''[[Neoscona nasidae|N. nasidae]]'' <small>Biswas & Raychaudhuri, 2013</small> – Bangladesh
*''[[Neoscona nautica|N. nautica]]'' <small>(L. Koch, 1875)</small> – Asia and Pacific islands. Introduced to both Americas, Sudan
*''[[Neoscona notanda|N. notanda]]'' <small>(Rainbow, 1912)</small> – Australia (Queensland)
*''[[Neoscona novella|N. novella]]'' <small>(Simon, 1907)</small> – Equatorial Guinea (Bioko)
*''[[Neoscona oaxacensis|N. oaxacensis]]'' <small>([[Eugen von Keyserling|Keyserling]], 1864)</small> – Western and Midwest USA to Peru, Galapagos Is.
*''[[Neoscona odites|N. odites]]'' <small>(Simon, 1906)</small> – India
*''[[Neoscona oriemindoroana|N. oriemindoroana]]'' <small>Barrion & Litsinger, 1995</small> – Philippines
*''[[Neoscona orientalis|N. orientalis]]'' <small>(Urquhart, 1887)</small> – New Zealand
*''[[Neoscona orizabensis|N. orizabensis]]'' <small>[[Frederick Octavius Pickard-Cambridge|F. O. Pickard-Cambridge]], 1904</small> – Mexico; [[Otero County, New Mexico]]
*''[[Neoscona parambikulamensis|N. parambikulamensis]]'' <small>Patel, 2003</small> – India
*''[[Neoscona pavida|N. pavida]]'' <small>(Simon, 1906)</small> – India, Pakistan, China
*''[[Neoscona penicillipes|N. penicillipes]]'' <small>(Karsch, 1879)</small> – West, Central Africa
*''[[Neoscona platnicki|N. platnicki]]'' <small>Gajbe & Gajbe, 2001</small> – India
*''[[Neoscona plebeja|N. plebeja]]'' <small>(L. Koch, 1871)</small> – Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu (Funafuti), Austral Is. (Rapa)
*''[[Neoscona polyspinipes|N. polyspinipes]]'' <small>Yin, Wang, Xie & Peng, 1990</small> – China
*''[[Neoscona pratensis|N. pratensis]]'' <small>(Hentz, 1847)</small> – Eastern to midwestern USA, Canada
*''[[Neoscona pseudonautica|N. pseudonautica]]'' <small>Yin, Wang, Xie & Peng, 1990</small> – China, Korea
*''[[Neoscona pseudoscylla|N. pseudoscylla]]'' <small>(Schenkel, 1953)</small> – China
*''[[Neoscona punctigera|N. punctigera]]'' <small>([[Carl Ludwig Doleschall|Doleschall]], 1857)</small> – Reunion, India, Myanmar, China, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea, Australia
*''[[Neoscona quadrigibbosa|N. quadrigibbosa]]'' <small>Grasshoff, 1986</small> – Central, Southern Africa
*''[[Neoscona quincasea|N. quincasea]]'' <small>Roberts, 1983</small> – Central, Southern Africa, Seychelles (Aldabra)
*''[[Neoscona rahamani|N. rahamani]]'' <small>Biswas & Raychaudhuri, 2013</small> – Bangladesh
*''[[Neoscona rapta|N. rapta]]'' <small>([[Tamerlan Thorell|Thorell]], 1899)</small> – Africa
*''[[Neoscona raydakensis|N. raydakensis]]'' <small>Saha, Biswas, Majumder & Raychaudhuri, 1995</small> – India
*''[[Neoscona rufipalpis|N. rufipalpis]]'' <small>(Lucas, 1858)</small> – Africa, St. Helena, Cape Verde Is., Yemen
**''[[Neoscona rufipalpis|Neoscona r. buettnerana]]'' <small>(Strand, 1908)</small> – Cameroon, Togo
*''[[Neoscona sanghi|N. sanghi]]'' <small>Gajbe, 2004</small> – India
*''[[Neoscona sanjivani|N. sanjivani]]'' <small>Gajbe, 2004</small> – India
*''[[Neoscona scylla|N. scylla]]'' <small>(Karsch, 1879)</small> – Russia (Far East), China, Korea, Japan
*''[[Neoscona scylloides|N. scylloides]]'' <small>(Bösenberg & Strand, 1906)</small> – Russia (Far East), China, Korea, Taiwan, Japan
*''[[Neoscona semilunaris|N. semilunaris]]'' <small>(Karsch, 1879)</small> – China, Korea, Japan
*''[[Neoscona shillongensis|N. shillongensis]]'' <small>Tikader & Bal, 1981</small> – India, Pakistan, China
*''[[Neoscona simoni|N. simoni]]'' <small>Grasshoff, 1986</small> – Central Africa
*''[[Neoscona sinhagadensis|N. sinhagadensis]]'' <small>(Tikader, 1975)</small> – India, Pakistan, China
*''[[Neoscona sodom|N. sodom]]'' <small>Levy, 1998</small> – Israel
*''[[Neoscona stanleyi|N. stanleyi]]'' <small>(Lessert, 1930)</small> – Congo
*''[[Neoscona subfusca|N. subfusca]]'' <small>(C. L. Koch, 1837)</small> – Southern Europe, Africa, Turkey, Middle East, Ukraine, Caucasus, Russia (Europe) to Central Asia
**''[[Neoscona subfusca|Neoscona s. alboplagiata]]'' <small>[[Lodovico di Caporiacco|Caporiacco]], 1947</small> – Tanzania
**''[[Neoscona subfusca|Neoscona s. pallidior]]'' <small>(Thorell, 1899)</small> – Equatorial Guinea (Bioko)
*''[[Neoscona subpullata|N. subpullata]]'' <small>(Bösenberg & Strand, 1906)</small> – China, Korea, Japan
*''[[Neoscona tedgenica|N. tedgenica]]'' <small>(Bakhvalov, 1978)</small> – Russia (Europe) to Central Asia
*''[[Neoscona theisi|N. theisi]]'' <small>(Walckenaer, 1841)</small> – India, Australia, Philippines, Indonesia to China, Japan. Introduced to Seychelles, Pacific Is.
**''[[Neoscona theisi|Neoscona t. carbonaria]]'' <small>(Simon, 1909)</small> – Vietnam
**''[[Neoscona theisi|Neoscona t. feisiana]]'' <small>(Strand, 1911)</small> – Caroline Is.
**''[[Neoscona theisi|Neoscona t. savesi]]'' <small>(Simon, 1880)</small> – New Caledonia
**''[[Neoscona theisi|Neoscona t. theisiella]]'' <small>([[Albert Tullgren|Tullgren]], 1910)</small> – West, Central, East Africa, Yemen
**''[[Neoscona theisi|Neoscona t. triangulifera]]'' <small>(Thorell, 1878)</small> – New Guinea
*''[[Neoscona tianmenensis|N. tianmenensis]]'' <small>Yin, Wang, Xie & Peng, 1990</small> – China, Korea
*''[[Neoscona triangula|N. triangula]]'' <small>(Keyserling, 1864)</small> – Africa, India
**''[[Neoscona triangula|Neoscona t. mensamontella]]'' <small>(Strand, 1907)</small> – Madagascar
*''[[Neoscona triramusa|N. triramusa]]'' <small>Yin & Zhao, 1994</small> – China
*''[[Neoscona ujavalai|N. ujavalai]]'' <small>Reddy & Patel, 1992</small> – India
*''[[Neoscona usbonga|N. usbonga]]'' <small>Barrion & Litsinger, 1995</small> – Philippines
*''[[Neoscona utahana|N. utahana]]'' <small>(Chamberlin, 1919)</small> – USA, Mexico
*''[[Neoscona vigilans|N. vigilans]]'' <small>([[John Blackwall|Blackwall]], 1865)</small> – Africa, Asia (without Russia)
*''[[Neoscona xiquanensis|N. xiquanensis]]'' <small>Barrion, Barrion-Dupo & Heong, 2013</small> – China
*''[[Neoscona xishanensis|N. xishanensis]]'' <small>Yin, Wang, Xie & Peng, 1990</small> – China
*''[[Neoscona yadongensis|N. yadongensis]]'' <small>Yin, Wang, Xie & Peng, 1990</small> – China
*''[[Neoscona yptinika|N. yptinika]]'' <small>Barrion & Litsinger, 1995</small> – India, Philippines
*''[[Neoscona zhui|N. zhui]]'' <small>Zhang & Zhang, 2011</small> – China
}}

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="240" heights="180">
File: Neoscona arabesca P1300817b.jpg |''[[Neoscona arabesca]]'' Oklahoma, USA
File: Neoscona crucifera, Meadowood Farm SRMA, Mason Neck, Virginia.jpg |''[[Neoscona crucifera]]'' with prey Virginia, USA
File: Red-femurred Spotted Orbweaver - Neoscona domiciliorum, Leesylvania State Park, Woodbridge, Virginia.jpg |''[[Neoscona domiciliorum]] ''Virginia, USA
File:NeoscanaOaxacensisLagunaBeach1.JPG|''[[Neoscona oaxacensis]]'' California, USA
Neoscona theisi 1392.jpg|''[[Neoscona theisi]]'' Queensland, Australia
Neoscona theisi (ventral) 4146.jpg|''[[Neoscona theisi]]'' female ventral, Queensland, Australia
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons|Neoscona}}
* [https://bugguide.net/node/view/497529 Comparison of larger male orb-weavers of the United States and Canada] at BugGuide
* [http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/spiders/neoscona.htm ''N. crucifera'' and ''N. domiciliorum''] by the [[University of Florida]]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1933421}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Neoscona| ]]
[[Category:Araneidae genera]]
[[Category:Cosmopolitan spiders]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Eugène Simon]]