Orchard Orbweaver Spider

May 29, 2026

Sample information
Picture
Entry by: Emmi P
Location
Collection date 04/15/2026
Captive / Cultivated? Wild-caught
Group Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Observations

I found this spider in a tree located at the front lawn of my school. The weather was fairly warm, and the temperature was increasing throughout the collection as it was roughly 9:30 am. I only collected one spider from this tree.
Putative identification Arthropoda Arachnida Araneae Tetragnathidae Leucauge Leucauge venusta

Methods
Extraction kit DNeasy (Qiagen) blood and tissue kit
DNA extraction location Body without legs
Single or Duplex PCR Single Reaction
Gel electrophoresis system MiniPCR
Buffer TBE
DNA stain SYBR Safe
Gel images
Protocol notes

DNA extraction: I made sure to closely follow the protocol and crush up the arthropod really well. I cut off the legs of the spider and ground up the rest of the arthropod’s body.

Analysis: My positive control did not work, however my negative control did. My sample did not have a band at all. There could have been a problem with my DNA extraction of the arthropod.

Results
Wolbachia presence No
Confidence level Medium
Explanation of confidence level

Our positive control failed to produce a positive result, meaning it did not work as expected. I did not have any problems with the protocol, and I was not surprised by the band on the gel. I was only concerned that the positive control failed. Therefore, I have a medium level of confidence that our arthropod is not infected with Wolbachia.
Wolbachia 16S sequence
Arthropod COI sequence Download AB1
Summary The Leucauge venusta was found to be negative for Wolbachia.
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