It is distributed in the Americas, from Kansas and California south to Venezuela and Peru, including the Galápagos Islands.

The black-and-white pattern on the upper (dorsal) surface of the abdomen is considered to be distinctive.

Females have an epigyne appearing 2.5 times as long as wide when viewed from the rear.

The specific name oaxacensis refers to Keyserling's description of its origin as Oaxaca, Mexico.

[9] When found in the Galápagos, the species is often called Neoscona cooksoni and is said to be endemic,[10] but this name is now regarded as a synonym of N. oaxacensis.