Orb Weavers

What are orb weavers?

Orb weavers are the spiders of the family Araneidae, and they are defined by a behaviour rather than by a body part: they build the vertical wheel-shaped web that most people picture when they hear the word cobweb. Close to 3,000 species have been described, in roughly 180 genera, which makes Araneidae the third largest spider family after the jumping spiders and the tiny sheet-web weavers.

They are araneomorphs, the modern branch of spiders whose fangs close sideways against one another, and they occur on every continent except Antarctica — from hedgerows in northern Europe to rainforest in Queensland. Most people meet them in gardens, orchards, doorways, porch lights and the gaps between fence posts, which is why so many of the family's common names are domestic: the barn spider, the cross orb weaver, the yellow garden spider.

The family's boundaries have moved recently. The giant golden-silk spiders once split off as their own family — Nephila and its relatives, including the Jorō — are now generally treated as a subfamily inside Araneidae, so this page covers them too.

How to identify an orb weaver

Nine times out of ten the web identifies the spider before you ever look at the animal. If you do get close, these are the features to check.

Body shape and legs

The abdomen is the giveaway: large, rounded or egg-shaped, and often much bigger than the front half of the body — sometimes lumpy, shouldered or drawn out into points. The legs are strong, usually banded, and covered in stiff bristles used to handle silk. All araneids have three claws on each foot instead of two; the middle claw hooks the silk line. Body length spans 2 mm in the smallest genera to about 30 mm in a fat female golden silk spider. Some species abandon the smooth outline entirely: the spinybacked orbweaver has a hard, white, crab-shaped shell tipped with six spines.

Eyes and posture

There are eight small eyes in two rows, and eyesight is poor — an orb weaver reads its world through vibration in the silk, which is why one will sit motionless at the hub for hours. Many hang head-down in the centre of the web by day; others, including the Australian garden orb weaver, hide in a curled leaf or crevice at the end of a signal thread and only come out after dark.

Females and males

Sexual size difference is extreme in this family. In Argiope and the golden-silk spiders the female can be several times the male's length and many times his weight, and the small, slender male you see at the edge of a big web is not a different species — he is waiting for a safe moment to approach.

The orb web: how it is built and why it is rebuilt

Building an orb takes roughly half an hour and follows a fixed sequence. The spider releases a floating line until it snags something across the gap, walks it to make a bridge, drops a thread to form a Y, then lays down the frame and the radial spokes. Next comes a temporary non-sticky spiral working outwards, used as scaffolding, which the spider eats as it lays the real capture spiral inwards — this time coated in glue droplets. The finished web is a trap that costs protein, so most species take it down before dawn, swallow the silk and recycle it into tomorrow's. Our guide to the spider web compares this with sheet and tangle designs.

Several genera decorate the hub with a conspicuous zig-zag band of white silk, the stabilimentum; it is best known in Argiope aurantia. Its purpose is still argued over — warning birds away, attracting insects that see ultraviolet, or camouflaging the spider's outline are all plausible and none is proven.

Not every member of the family builds an orb. Bolas spiders swing a single silk line with a sticky ball on the end and reel in male moths that have been lured by a chemical imitation of the female moth's pheromone. The Australian bird-dropping spider does the same trick without any bolas, simply grabbing the moths out of the air while looking exactly like a splash of bird mess.

Life cycle: one summer, then the egg sac

In temperate regions almost every orb weaver is an annual. Spiderlings appear in spring, grow through the summer, and it is only in late August and September that they reach full size — which is why the huge spider that suddenly appears across the garden path in autumn was there all along, just small. After mating the female builds one or more silk egg sacs, each holding a few hundred to well over a thousand eggs depending on species, fixes them to a wall, a stem or a sheltered corner, and then dies with the first hard frosts.

The eggs overwinter inside the sac. Hatchlings moult once before they emerge, and the young stay balled together for a few days, sharing a scrappy communal web while they live off the yolk. Then they climb to a high point, tilt the abdomen up, release a few strands of silk and let the breeze carry them away — the dispersal flight described in our guide to spider ballooning. It is the main reason a garden emptied of spiders in November is full of them again by June.

In warm climates the pattern loosens: several tropical species live longer and breed more than once, and populations of the big golden-silk spiders can persist year-round.

Are orb weavers dangerous?

No. This is one of the few large spider families with no medically significant genus at all — nothing here resembles a widow or a recluse. Orb weavers are shy, effectively blind to anything that is not in their web, and their first response to a threat is to drop on a dragline or shake the web until they blur. To bite you at all one generally has to be squeezed, usually when a hand closes around a web on a fence rail.

When it does happen, the bite of a large species such as an Argiope or a golden-silk spider is a brief sharp nip with some local redness and swelling, comparable to a nettle sting and over within a few hours. Smaller species usually cannot break skin. No antivenom exists or is needed, and no death has ever been attributed to the family.

The Jorō spider, which has spread across the southeastern United States since about 2013, is worth a line of its own because of the alarm it generates. It is a large, spectacular, non-aggressive orb weaver whose venom poses no threat to people or pets; the genuine questions about it are ecological, not medical.

Genera of the Orb Weavers (Araneidae)

Genera listed for this family on Spider Identifications — linked names have their own profile:

• Acanthepeira
• Neoscona
• Verrucosa
• Eriophora
• Araneus
• Caerostris
• Argiope
• Eriovixia
• Larinioides
• Phonognatha
• Dolophones
• Golden Silk Orb-weaver
• Spiny Orb-weaver
• Micrathena
• Ordgarius
• Celaenia

Orb Weavers: species profiles

60 profiles in this family, each with identification photos, size, range, web, bite information and FAQ.

SpeciesArabesque Orb-weaver (Neoscona arabesca)Identify the arabesque orb-weaver (Neoscona arabesca): the scrolled abdomen pattern, size, its nightly orb web, range across the Americas anSpeciesAraneus alboventrisIdentify Araneus alboventris: a tiny yellow-green orb weaver with a crimson-edged black patch, its white belly, small shrub-level orb, rangeSpeciesAraneus cingulatusIdentify Araneus cingulatus, the tiny red-spotted orb weaver of eastern US woodland: size, green and red markings, its small high orb, rangeSpeciesAraneus gemmaIdentify Araneus gemma, the humped western orb weaver of the US Pacific states and BC: size, colour, its nightly orb web, habitat and how haSpeciesAraneus niveusIdentify Araneus niveus, a small green North American orb weaver with a brown patch and two snow-white spots: size, web, habitat, range and SpeciesAraneus ventricosusIdentify Araneus ventricosus, the large nocturnal orb weaver of Japan, Korea, China and Russia: size, colour, its nightly web, habitat and bSpeciesArgiope amoenaIdentify Argiope amoena: the banded East Asian garden argiope, its zig-zag orb web, where it lives in Japan, Korea and China, and whether itSpeciesArrow-shaped Micrathena (Micrathena sagittata)Identify the arrow-shaped micrathena (Micrathena sagittata): the yellow arrowhead abdomen, its two long rear spines, web, range, season and SpeciesArrowhead (Verrucosa arenata)Identify the arrowhead orb weaver (Verrucosa arenata): the white triangle, its head-up posture in the web, range, habitat and whether the biSpeciesAustralian Garden Orb Weaver (Eriophora transmarina)Identify the Australian garden orb weaver (Eriophora transmarina): size, colour, leaf-shaped abdomen, its nightly orb web, range and how badSpeciesBanded Garden (Argiope trifasciata)Identify the banded garden spider (Argiope trifasciata): silver banding, size, the zigzag in its web, egg sac, range, and whether its bite iSpeciesBarn (Araneus cavaticus)Identify the barn spider (Araneus cavaticus): size, markings, the orb web it rebuilds every night, where it lives and whether its bite is daSpeciesBird-dropping (Celaenia excavata)Identify the bird-dropping spider (Celaenia excavata): its bird-lime disguise, the moth pheromone lure it hunts with, where it lives and wheSpeciesCat-Faced (Araneus gemmoides)Identify the cat-faced spider (Araneus gemmoides): the two abdominal horns, size, colour range, its nightly orb web, where it lives and whetSpeciesCross Orb Weaver (Araneus diadematus)Identify the cross orb weaver (Araneus diadematus) by the white cross on its abdomen: size, colour, web, egg sac, range and whether the biteSpeciesDarwin's Bark (Caerostris darwini)Darwin's bark spider (Caerostris darwini) spins the largest orb web known. Identification, size, record-breaking silk, range in Madagascar aSpeciesFierce Orbweaver Spider (Araneus saevus)Identify the fierce orbweaver (Araneus saevus): a dark, humped orb weaver of northern spruce forest. Size, web, range, season and how dangerSpeciesFurrow (Larinioides cornutus)Identify the furrow spider (Larinioides cornutus): the foliate abdomen mark, its nightly orb web beside water, range, diet and whether the bSpeciesGarden Orb Weaver Spider (Eriophora pustulosa)Identify the garden or knobbled orb weaver (Eriophora pustulosa) of Australia and New Zealand: size, shoulder knobs, nightly web, bite and hSpeciesGiant Lichen Orb Weaver (Araneus bicentenarius)Identify the giant lichen orb weaver (Araneus bicentenarius): size, lichen camouflage, its huge night orb web, range, and whether its bite iSpeciesGiant Wood Spider (Nephila pilipes)Identify the giant wood spider (Nephila pilipes): huge black-and-yellow females, tiny males, golden orb webs, range, diet and whether its biSpeciesGray Cross Spider (Larinioides sclopetarius)Identify the gray cross spider or bridge spider (Larinioides sclopetarius): size, silver-edged pattern, its lamp-lit webs on steel bridges, SpeciesHawaiian Garden (Argiope appensa)Identify the Hawaiian garden spider (Argiope appensa): size, black-and-yellow markings, the zig-zag stabilimentum in its web, range and biteSpeciesJorō (Trichonephila clavata)Identify the Jorō spider (Trichonephila clavata): size, gold-and-blue colors, its three-layer golden web, its spread across the US South, anSpeciesLeaf Spider (Phonognatha graeffei)Identify the leaf curling spider (Phonognatha graeffei): the curled leaf retreat, its gap-topped orb web, Australian range and whether its bSpeciesLobed Argiope (Argiope lobata)Identify the lobed argiope (Argiope lobata): the scalloped silver abdomen, the big orb web, its range from Spain to South Africa, and how haSpeciesMagnificent (Ordgarius magnificus)Identify the magnificent spider (Ordgarius magnificus): size, cream and pink colouring, the sticky bolas it hunts moths with, its range and SpeciesMarbled Orb-weaver (Araneus marmoreus)Identify the marbled orb weaver (Araneus marmoreus): marbled abdomen, the orange pumpkin spider form, size, web and retreat, range, and whetSpeciesMissing Sector Orb Weaver (Zygiella x-notata)Identify the missing sector orb weaver (Zygiella x-notata): size, the gap in its web, the signal thread, where it lives, and whether the bitSpeciesNephila ClavipesNephila clavipes, the golden silk orb weaver or banana spider: size, the golden web, range from Florida to Argentina, and whether its bite iSpeciesRed-femured Spotted Orbweaver Spider (Neoscona domiciliorum)Identify the red-femured spotted orbweaver (Neoscona domiciliorum) by its red leg femora, cross-marked abdomen and huge nightly orb web. RanSpeciesShamrock Orb Weaver (Araneus trifolium)Identify the shamrock orb weaver (Araneus trifolium): size, the white-dotted globe abdomen, banded legs, its web and retreat, range, season SpeciesSilver Garden (Argiope argentata)Identify the silver garden spider (Argiope argentata): silvery body, banded legs, the X-shaped silk cross in its web, range from Florida to SpeciesSorting Hat (Eriovixia gryffindori)The sorting hat spider (Eriovixia gryffindori) of India's Western Ghats: size, its dried-leaf disguise, where it was found and whether it isSpeciesSpined Micrathena (Micrathena gracilis)Identify the spined micrathena (Micrathena gracilis): its black-and-white spined abdomen, the dense daytime orb web it rebuilds each morningSpeciesSpinybacked Orbweaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis)Spinybacked orbweaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis) identification: six abdominal spines, colour forms, the silk-tufted web, range and whetheSpeciesSpotted Orb Weaver (Neoscona crucifera)Identify the spotted orb weaver (Neoscona crucifera): rusty hairy body, ringed legs, size, the web it rebuilds nightly, range and whether itSpeciesSt. Andrews Cross (Argiope keyserlingi)Identify the St. Andrews cross spider (Argiope keyserlingi): size, colours, the X-shaped web decoration, where it lives and whether its biteSpeciesStarbellied Orb-weaver (Acanthepeira stellata)Identify the starbellied orb-weaver (Acanthepeira stellata): the spiked star-shaped abdomen, size, its grassland orb web, range and whether SpeciesTropical Orb-weaver (Eriophora ravilla)Identify the tropical orb-weaver (Eriophora ravilla): size, colour forms, the huge orb it builds and eats each night, its Gulf Coast range aSpeciesWasp (Argiope Bruennichi)Identify the wasp spider (Argiope bruennichi): yellow, black and white bands, zigzag orb web, where it lives in Europe and whether its bite SpeciesWestern Spotted Orbweaver Spider (Neoscona oaxacensis)Identify the western spotted orbweaver (Neoscona oaxacensis): size, mottled black-and-white abdomen, its nightly orb web, range and whether SpeciesWrap-Around (Dolophones conifer)Identify the Australian wrap-around spider (Dolophones conifer): its flat bark-hugging body, its night-only orb web, its range and its harmlSpeciesYellow Garden (Argiope aurantia)Identify the yellow garden spider (Argiope aurantia): black and yellow markings, size, the zigzag stabilimentum, egg sacs, range and whether

Genus profiles

GenusAcanthepeiraA guide to Acanthepeira spiders: the spined star-shaped abdomen that defines the genus, the species involved, the orb web they build, range GenusAraneusA guide to Araneus spiders: how to identify the genus, the orb web they build, where the 650-odd species live, and whether an Araneus bite mGenusArgiopeA guide to Argiope spiders: the big garden orb weavers with zig-zag web decorations, how to identify them, where they live and how bad the bGenusCaerostrisA guide to Caerostris bark spiders: how to identify them, the record-breaking webs of Darwin's bark spider, where they live and whether theyGenusCelaeniaA guide to Celaenia spiders: how to identify the genus, the moth pheromone lure they hunt with, the species in it, and whether a Celaenia biGenusDolophonesA guide to Dolophones, the Australian wrap-around orb weavers: how to recognise the genus, the night-only web, the species in it, and whetheGenusEriophoraA guide to Eriophora orb-weavers: how to identify the genus, the big orb they build and eat every night, the main species, and how harmless GenusEriovixiaA guide to Eriovixia spiders: the cone-tailed orb weavers of Asia and Africa, how to identify them, the night webs they build, and whether tGenusGolden Silk Orb-Weaver (Nephila)Golden silk orb-weavers (Nephila): huge females, tiny males, giant golden webs, where they live, what they eat and whether their bite is danGenusLarinioidesA guide to Larinioides spiders: how to identify this waterside orb weaver genus, the webs they spin at night, where they live and whether thGenusMicrathenaA guide to Micrathena, the spiny orb weavers of the Americas: how to identify the genus, the webs they build, where they live and whether thGenusNeosconaA guide to Neoscona orb-weavers: how to tell the genus from Araneus, the nightly orb web, the common species worldwide, and how harmless theGenusOrdgariusA guide to Ordgarius bolas spiders: how to identify the genus, the swinging sticky bolas they hunt with, where they live and whether they biGenusPhonognathaA guide to Phonognatha, the leaf-curling orb weavers of Australia: the curled-leaf retreat, the open-sector web, the four species and the haGenusSpiny Orb-Weaver (Gasteracantha)Identify spiny orb-weavers (Gasteracantha): the hard spined abdomen, the tufted orb web, where the genus lives worldwide, and whether the spGenusVerrucosaA guide to Verrucosa orb-weavers: the triangular abdomen, the head-up posture that gives them away, where the 45 species live, and whether a

Orb weaver or look-alike?

The nearest confusion is the long-jawed orb weavers, which also build orbs but are elongated rather than round-bodied, carry enormous chelicerae, tilt their webs towards the horizontal and stretch out along a stem or reed with the legs in line rather than spread. A slim, stick-like spider on a near-horizontal orb over water is almost certainly one of them.

Hackled-band weavers build an orb too, but the capture spiral is a woolly, dry, teased silk instead of glue droplets, and these spiders have no venom glands at all. In a doorway or a shed corner the web itself sorts things out: an untidy three-dimensional tangle with sticky lines running down to the floor belongs to the cobweb spiders, not to this family, and a flat horizontal sheet with a funnel at one edge belongs to a different family again.

Finally, a compact, alert spider sitting on a leaf with two huge forward-facing eyes and no web at all is a jumping spider. Orb weavers never stalk prey in the open.

Did you know?

• Araneidae really is the third largest spider family, as the original page claimed — but the often-quoted figure of 4,202 species is out of date, and current catalogues put the total closer to 3,000 after several genera were moved elsewhere.
• Darwin's bark spider in Madagascar bridges rivers with anchor lines tens of metres long and hangs an orb over open water. Its dragline silk is the toughest biological material yet measured.
• Golden silk is genuinely gold: the yellow pigment in the web of Nephila and its relatives shows up in strong sunlight and appears to help the web both attract bees and vanish against foliage.
• Many orb weavers eat their own web at dawn and have a new one up by nightfall, recovering most of the protein they invested.
• Some of the strangest members of the family are shaped like objects rather than spiders: bird droppings, thorns, curled leaves and — in the case of the spinybacked forms — a piece of enamelled hardware.
• The giant golden-silk spiders of Australia and Southeast Asia build webs strong enough to hold a small bird, though birds are caught by accident rather than hunted.