Orb-weaver Spider

Araneidae

Orb-weaver Spiders are famous for their beautiful, round webs. They are great at catching insects in their sticky traps.

Habitat: Gardens and forests

Appearance

The Orb-weaver Spider is known for its often large, rounded abdomen, which can be smooth or spiky and brightly colored with intricate patterns. Many species have hairy legs. They are distinguished by their classic, geometrically perfect spiral webs.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassArachnidaOrderAraneaeFamilyAraneidaeGenusAraneus

Orb-weaver Spider

Interesting facts

Many orb-weavers are active at night, spinning a fresh, sticky web daily.

Some gigantic orb-weaver webs can stretch across streams and even small rivers.

Some species decorate their webs with zig-zag silk patterns called stabilimenta.

Their amazing silk is stronger than steel by weight, yet super stretchy!

Special abilities

Orb-weaver Spiders can spin incredibly strong and intricate spiral webs using specialized silk glands that help them efficiently capture flying insects.

Orb-weaver Spiders have tiny, sensitive hairs on their legs and body that help them feel subtle vibrations from trapped prey or approaching dangers.

Orb-weaver Spiders can eat their old or damaged silk webs, reusing the protein to build a fresh, strong web almost every single night.

Orb-weaver Spiders have several types of silk, including very sticky strands that help them snare and hold struggling prey securely in their webs.

Measurements & details

Size: 3-30 mm
Lifespan: 180-365 days
Leg Count: 8

Diet & Feeding

These spiders mainly eat insects caught in their amazing sticky webs.

Primary Foods

Flies
Moths
Beetles
Mosquitoes
Grasshoppers

Foraging Method

Ambush

Ecological connections

hunts

House Fly

Musca domestica

Traps flies in its sticky web.

hunts

Black Swallowtail

Papilio polyxenes

Catches butterflies and moths that fly into its web.

eats

European Hornet

Vespa crabro

Some hornets can attack and eat spiders.

eaten by

Blue Jay

Cyanocitta cristata

Birds frequently feed on spiders and their egg sacs.

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Web Builder

Witness the incredible artistry of creatures that weave intricate, silken structures right before your eyes. They create amazing traps and homes using their own unique silk.

Colorful

Discover amazing plants and animals that show off a dazzling array of bright and beautiful hues! They use their vibrant colors to attract attention or send signals.

Insectivorous

Discover clever creatures that specialize in munching on insects, playing a super important role in keeping bug populations in check. They are nature's tiny bug vacuums!