Spined Micrathena

Micrathena gracilis is native to North and Central America. These spiders tend to wander and rarely ever remain in the same web site for more than week. On average, they spend about 6–7 days on each web site. They are neotropical forest spiders and can be found more easily in hardwood forests that contain oak and hickory trees. They tend to like moisture; they are more easily found in woodland forests that are near a lagoon, pond, or other small bodies of water. One study mentioned that these spiders were found in an area that tends to flood during their mating season. M. gracilis may also coexist within and along the edges of colonies of Metepeira incrassata, also known as the colonial orb-weaving spider. They prey on the skimming bluet and are in turn eaten by white-eyed vireos.

Micrathena gracilis hatches in the spring, the image of an adult. After the summer's growth, the female lays eggs in a sac. These remain relatively dormant through the winter months. The general life span is one year in length.