Orb-web Spiders (Araneidae) Page 1

Orb-web Spiders (Araneidae)

As the name indicates, these spiders weave orb-webs to trap their prey, usually flying insects. After having trapped an insect in their web, many members of this family proceed to wrap their prey in a white shroud of silk to be eaten later. Some members of this family decorate their webs with extra layers of silk, called stabilimentum, and these form the distinctive X pattern of the “St. Andrew’s Cross” spiders.
The Argiope spiders are attractive because of the colours and patterns on their body. They also have quite distinctive webs. However, the most striking spiders I have seen are the spiny spiders, in particular Gasteracantha arcuata. The two long, curved spines rising from the sides of its abdomen give it the appearance of a pair of horns.
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