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ABSTRACT
Rare orb-weaver spiders of the genera Cyrtarachne and Glyptogona from Israel are described. The local Cyclosa species with their peculiar distribution are discussed along with the infrequently encountered Cyrtophora species. In addition, the occasionally common species of the often confounded Araneinae genera Araneus, Aculepeira, Gibbaranea, Agalenatea, Neoscona, Pararaneus, and Larinioides are reviewed. The nomenclature of Larinioides suspicax is also addressed. Four sizeable Argiope species, some formerly unknown from Israel, are described. The following new synonyms are recognized: Aranea lunulifera Reimoser, 1938 = Pararaneus spectator (Karsch, 1886); Epeira perplicata O.P.-Cambridge, 1872 = Neoscona subfusca (C. L. Koch, 1837), and Araneus cornutus orientalis Fage, 1921 = Larinioides suspicax (O.P.-Cambridge, 1876). The validity of the subspecies Araneus armida canescens Simon, 1908, is rejected, and Epeira modesta Simon, 1890, is newly transferred to Neoscona. Two new species are described: Cyclosa deserticola and Neoscona sodom. Illustrations of diagnostic characters, records of distribution, and pertinent literature are provided for each species.