Editing Orb-weaver spider

{{Short description|Family of spiders}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = Orb-weaver spiders
| fossil_range = {{Fossil range|Cretaceous|present}}
| image = Argiope catenulata at Kadavoor.jpg
| image_caption = ''[[Argiope catenulata]]''
| taxon = Araneidae
| authority = [[Carl Alexander Clerck|Clerck]], 1757
| range_map = Distribution.araneidae.1.png
| diversity = [[#Genera|186 genera]], 3108 species
}}

'''Orb-weaver spiders''' are members of the [[spider]] [[family (biology)|family]] '''Araneidae'''. They are the most common group of builders of spiral wheel-shaped [[spider web|webs]] often found in gardens, fields, and forests. The English word "orb" can mean "circular",<ref name=MW_orb/> hence the English name of the group. Araneids have eight similar eyes, hairy or spiny legs, and no [[stridulation|stridulating]] organs.

The family has a [[cosmopolitan distribution]], including many well-known large or brightly colored garden spiders. With 3,108 [[species]] in 186 [[genus|genera]] worldwide, the Araneidae comprise one of the largest family of spiders (with the [[Salticidae]] and [[Linyphiidae]]).<ref name=WSC_stats/> Araneid webs are constructed in a stereotypical fashion, where a framework of nonsticky [[spider silk|silk]] is built up before the spider adds a final spiral of silk covered in sticky droplets.

[[Spider web#Orb web construction|Orb webs]] are also produced by members of other spider families. The long-jawed orb weavers ([[Tetragnathidae]]) were formerly included in the Araneidae; they are closely related, being part of the [[taxonomic rank|superfamily]] [[Araneoidea]]. The family Arkyidae has been split off from the Araneidae.<ref name=DimiBenaArneGiri16>{{Citation |mode=cs1 |last1=Dimitrov |first1=Dimitar |last2=Benavides |first2=Ligia R. |last3=Arnedo |first3=Miquel A. |last4=Giribet |first4=Gonzalo |last5=Griswold |first5=Charles E. |last6=Scharff |first6=Nikolaj |last7=Hormiga |first7=Gustavo |date=2016 |title=Rounding up the usual suspects: a standard target-gene approach for resolving the interfamilial phylogenetic relationships of ecribellate orb-weaving spiders with a new family-rank classification (Araneae, Araneoidea) |journal=Cladistics |volume=33 |issue=3 |pages=221–250 |url=http://macroecointern.dk/pdf-reprints/Dimitrov_Cladistics_2016.pdf |access-date=2016-10-18 |doi=10.1111/cla.12165 |pmid=34715728 |s2cid=34962403 |name-list-style=amp |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="Dimitrov-Hormiga-2020">{{cite journal | last1=Dimitrov | first1=Dimitar | last2=Hormiga | first2=Gustavo | title=Spider Diversification Through Space and Time | journal=[[Annual Review of Entomology]] | publisher=[[Annual Reviews (publisher)|Annual Reviews]] | volume=66 | issue=1 | date=2021-01-07 | issn=0066-4170 | doi=10.1146/annurev-ento-061520-083414 | pages=225–241| pmid=32822555 | s2cid=221235817 }}</ref><ref name=WSC_stats/> The [[Cribellum|cribellate]] or hackled orb-weavers ([[Uloboridae]]) belong to a different group of spiders. Their webs are strikingly similar, but use a different kind of silk.

==Description==
[[File:Argiope sp.jpg|thumb|''Argiope'' sp. sitting on the [[Web decorations|stabilimentum]] at the center of the web]]
[[File:Orb weaver spiderlings.jpg|thumb|Spiderlings in the web near where they hatched]]
[[File:Eriophora sp 2.jpg|thumb|Close-up of the [[cephalothorax]] on ''[[Eriophora]]'' sp. (possibly ''[[Eriophora heroine|E. heroine]]'' or ''[[Eriophora pustuosa|E. pustuosa]]'')]]
[[File:SpinyOrbWeaver.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Gasteracantha cancriformis]]'']]
[[File:Araneidae web.jpg|thumb|right|Araneidae web]]
[[File:Orb-Weaver Spider.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Araneidae]]'' waiting on its web for prey]]

Generally, orb-weaving spiders are three-clawed builders of flat [[Spider web|webs]] with sticky spiral capture [[Spider silk|silk]]. The building of a web is an engineering feat, begun when the spider floats a line on the wind to another surface. The spider secures the line and then drops another line from the center, making a "Y". The rest of the scaffolding follows with many radii of nonsticky silk being constructed before a final spiral of sticky capture silk.

The third claw is used to walk on the nonsticky part of the web. Characteristically, the prey [[insect]] that blunders into the sticky lines is stunned by a quick bite, and then wrapped in silk. If the prey is a [[venom (poison)|venomous]] insect, such as a wasp, wrapping may precede biting and/or stinging. Much of the orb-spinning spiders' success in capturing insects depends on the web not being visible to the prey, with the stickiness of the web increasing the visibility, thus decreasing the chances of capturing prey. This leads to a trade-off between the visibility of the web and the web's prey-retention ability.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Craig|first=C. L.|date=1988|title=Insect Perception of Spider Orb Webs in Three Light Habitats|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2389398|journal=Functional Ecology|volume=2|issue=3|pages=277–282|doi=10.2307/2389398|jstor=2389398|bibcode=1988FuEco...2..277C |issn=0269-8463|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Many orb-weavers build a new web each day. Most orb-weavers tend to be active during the evening hours; they hide for most of the day. Generally, towards evening, the spider consumes the old web, rests for about an hour, then spins a new web in the same general location. Thus, the webs of orb-weavers are generally free of the accumulation of [[detritus]] common to other species, such as [[Latrodectus|black widow]] spiders.

Some orb-weavers do not build webs at all. Members of the genera ''[[Mastophora (spider)|Mastophora]]'' in the Americas, ''[[Cladomelea]]'' in Africa, and ''[[Ordgarius]]'' in [[Australia]] produce sticky globules, which contain a [[pheromone]] analog. The globule is hung from a silken thread dangled by the spider from its front legs. The pheromone analog attracts male moths of only a few species. These get stuck on the globule and are reeled in to be eaten. Both genera of [[bolas spider]]s are highly camouflaged and difficult to locate.

In the ''Araneus diadematus'', variables such as wind, web support, temperatures, humidity, and silk supply all proved to be variables in web construction. When studied against the tests of nature, the spiders were able to decide what shape to make their web, how many capture spirals, or the width of their web.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Vollrath |first1=Fritz |last2=Downes |first2=Mike |last3=Krackow |first3=Sven |date=1997-10-01 |title=Design Variability in Web Geometry of an Orb-Weaving Spider |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0031938497001868 |journal=Physiology & Behavior |language=en |volume=62 |issue=4 |pages=735–743 |doi=10.1016/S0031-9384(97)00186-8 |pmid=9284492 |s2cid=38948237 |issn=0031-9384|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Though it could be expected for these spiders to just know these things, it is not well researched yet as to just how the arachnid knows how to change their web design based on their surroundings. Some scientists suggest that it could be through the spider's spatial learning on their environmental surroundings and the knowing of what will or will not work compared to natural behavioristic rules.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Exploration behaviour and behavioural flexibility in orb-web spiders: A review |url=https://academic.oup.com/cz/article/61/2/313/1792359?login=false |access-date=2022-10-23 |website=academic.oup.com}}</ref>

The spiny orb-weaving spiders in the genera ''[[Gasteracantha]]'' and ''[[Micrathena]]'' look like plant seeds or thorns hanging in their orb-webs. Some species of ''Gasteracantha'' have very long, horn-like spines protruding from their abdomens.

One feature of the webs of some orb-weavers is the [[web decorations|stabilimentum]], a crisscross band of silk through the center of the web. It is found in several genera, but ''[[Argiope (spider)|Argiope]]'' &ndash; the yellow and banded garden spiders of North America &ndash; is a prime example. As orb-weavers age, they tend to have less production of their silk; many adult orb-weavers can then depend on their coloration to attract more of their prey.<ref name="galvez">{{cite journal | last1=Gálvez | first1=Dumas | last2=Añino | first2=Yostin | last3=De la O | first3=Jorge M. | title=Age variation in the body coloration of the orb-weaver spider Alpaida tuonabo and its implications on foraging | journal=Scientific Reports | volume=8 | issue=1 | pages=3599 | date=26 February 2018 | issn=2045-2322 | doi=10.1038/s41598-018-21971-0 | pmid=29483535 | pmc=5827658 | bibcode=2018NatSR...8.3599G }}</ref> The band may be a lure for prey, a marker to warn birds away from the web, and a [[camouflage]] for the spider when it sits in the web. The stabilimentum may decrease the visibility of the silk to insects, thus making it harder for prey to avoid the web.<ref name=BlacWenz00/> The orb-web consists of a frame and supporting radii overlaid with a sticky capture spiral, and the silks used by orb-weaver spiders have exceptional mechanical properties to withstand the impact of flying prey.<ref name=GarbDemaVoHaya06/> The orb-weaving spider ''[[Zygiella x-notata]]'' produces a unique orb-web with a characteristic missing sector, similar to other species of the ''Zygiella'' genus in the Araneidae family.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Venner|first1=Samuel|last2=Pasquet|first2=Alain|last3=Leborgne|first3=Raymond|title=Web-building behaviour in the orb-weaving spider Zygiella x-notata: influence of experience|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/anbe.1999.1327|journal=Animal Behaviour|year=2000|volume=59|issue=3|pages=603–611|doi=10.1006/anbe.1999.1327|pmid=10715183|s2cid=41339367|issn=0003-3472|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

During the [[Cretaceous]], a radiation of [[flowering plant]]s and their insect pollinators occurred. Fossil evidence shows that the orb web was in existence at this time, which permitted a concurrent radiation of the spider predators along with their insect prey.<ref name=Smithsonian/><ref name=PennOrtu06/> The capacity of orb–webs to absorb the impact of flying prey led orbicularian spiders to become the dominant predators of aerial insects in many ecosystems.<ref name=Blac09/> Insects and spiders have comparable rates of diversification, suggesting they co-radiated, and the peak of this radiation occurred 100 Mya, before the origin of [[angiosperm]]s.<ref name=VollSeld07/> Vollrath and Selden (2007) make the bold proposition that insect evolution was driven less by flowering plants than by spider predation – particularly through orb webs – as a major selective force.<ref name=VollSeld07/> On the other hand some analyses have yielded estimates as high as 265 Mya, with a large number (including Dimitrov et al 2016) intermediate between the two.<ref name="Dimitrov-Hormiga-2020" />

Most arachnid webs are vertical and the spiders usually hang with their heads downward. A few webs, such as those of orb-weavers in the genus ''[[Metepeira]]'', have the orb hidden within a tangled space of web. Some ''Metepiera'' species are semisocial and live in communal webs. In Mexico, such communal webs have been cut out of trees or bushes and used for living [[fly paper]].{{Citation needed|date=August 2007}} In 2009, workers at a [[Baltimore]] wastewater treatment plant called for help to deal with over 100 million orb-weaver spiders, living in a community that managed to spin a phenomenal web that covered some 4 acres of a building, with spider densities in some areas reaching 35,176 spiders per cubic meter.<ref name=Alford/>

== Taxonomy ==
[[File:Argiopespain.jpg|thumbnail|right|''[[Argiope lobata]]'' in southern [[Spain]]]]

The oldest known true orb-weaver is ''[[Mesozygiella dunlopi]]'', from the [[Lower Cretaceous]]. Several fossils provide direct evidence that the three major orb-weaving families, namely the Araneidae, Tetragnathidae, and Uloboridae, had evolved by this time, about 140 Mya.<ref name=PenaGrimDelc06/> They probably originated during the Jurassic ({{Ma|200|140}}). Based on new molecular evidence in silk genes, all three families are likely to have a common origin.<ref name=GarbDemaVoHaya06/><ref name=PennOrtu06/><ref name=Blac09/>

The two superfamilies, Deinopoidea and Araneoidea, have similar behavioral sequences and spinning apparatuses to produce architecturally similar webs. The latter weave true viscid silk with an aqueous glue property, and the former use dry fibrils and sticky silk.<ref name=GarbDemaVoHaya06/><ref name=Shea86/> The Deinopoidea (including the Uloboridae), have a [[cribellum]] – a flat, complex spinning plate from which the cribellate silk is released.<ref name=Codd86/>

They also have a [[calamistrum]] – an apparatus of bristles used to comb the cribellate silk from the cribellum. The Araneoidea, or the "ecribellate" spiders, do not have these two structures. The two groups of orb-weaving spiders are morphologically very distinct, yet much similarity exists between their web forms and web construction behaviors. The cribellates retained the ancestral character, yet the cribellum was lost in the escribellates. The lack of a functional cribellum in araneoids is most likely [[synapomorphic]].<ref name=Codd86/>

If the orb-weaver spiders are a [[monophyletic group]], the fact that only some species in the group lost a feature adds to the controversy. The cribellates are split off as a separate taxon that retained the primitive feature, which makes the lineage [[paraphyletic]] and not synonymous with any real evolutionary lineage. The morphological and behavioral evidence surrounding orb webs led to the disagreement over a single or a dual origin.<ref name=Codd86/> While early molecular analysis provided more support for a [[monophyletic]] origin,<ref name=GarbDemaVoHaya06/><ref name=PennOrtu06/><ref name=Blac09/> other evidence indicates that orb-weavers evolved earlier phylogenetically than previously thought, and were extinct at least three times during the [[Cretaceous]].<ref name=Fernández2018>{{cite journal |last1=Fernández |first1=R |last2=Kallal |first2=R.J. |last3=Dimitrov |first3=D |journal= Current Biology|title=Phylogenomics, diversification dynamics, and comparative transcriptomics across the spider tree of life.| date=2018 |volume=28 |issue=9 |pages=1489–1497.e5 |pmid=29706520|doi=10.1016/j.cub.2018.03.064 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2018CBio...28E1489F }}</ref><ref name=Garrison2016>{{cite journal |last1=Garrison |first1=N |last2=Rodriguez |first2=L. J. |last3=Agnarsson |first3=I |last4=Coddington |first4=J.A. |last5=Griswold |first5=Charles E. |last6=Hamilton |first6=C.A |last7=Hedin |first7=M. |title=Spider phylogenomics: untangling the spider tree of life |journal=PeerJ |date=2016 |volume=4 |page=e1719|pmid=26925338|pmc=4768681|doi=10.7717/peerj.1719 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="Dimitrov-Hormiga-2020"/>

==Reproduction==
Araneid species either mate at the central hub of the web, where the male slowly traverses the web, trying not to get eaten, and when reaching the hub, mounts the female; or the male constructs a mating thread inside or outside the web to attract the female via vibratory courtship, and if successful, mating occurs on the thread.<ref name=Elga91/>

In the [[Cannibalism|cannibalistic]] and [[polyandry in animals|polyandrous]] orb-web spider ''[[Argiope bruennichi]]'', the much smaller males are attacked during their first copulation and are cannibalized in up to 80% of the cases.<ref name=SchnGilbFromUhl06/> All surviving males die after their second copulation, a pattern observed in other ''Argiope'' species. Whether a male survives his first copulation depends on the duration of the genital contact; males that jump off early (before 5 seconds) have a chance of surviving, while males that copulate longer (greater than 10 seconds) invariably die. Prolonged copulation, although associated with cannibalism, enhances sperm transfer and relative paternity.<ref name=SchnGilbFromUhl06/>

When males mated with a nonsibling female, the duration of their copulation was prolonged, and consequently the males were cannibalized more frequently.<ref name=WelkSchn10/> When males mated with a sibling female, they copulated briefly, thus were more likely to escape cannibalism. By escaping, their chance of mating again with an unrelated female likely would be increased. These observations suggest that males can adaptively adjust their investment based on the degree of genetic relatedness of the female to avoid [[inbreeding depression]].

=== Sexual size dimorphism ===
[[Sexual dimorphism]] refers to physical differences between males and females of the same species. One such difference can be in size.

Araneids often exhibit size dimorphism typically known as extreme sexual size dimorphism, due to the extent of differences in size. The size difference among species of Araneidae ranges greatly. Some females, such as those of the ''[[Nephila pilipes]]'', can be at least 9 times larger than the male, while others are only slightly larger than the male.<ref name=GustSchaCodd00/> The larger size female is typically thought to be selected through [[fecundity selection]],<ref name=LegrMors00/> the idea that bigger females can produce more eggs, thus more offspring. Although a great deal of evidence points towards the greatest selection pressure on larger female size, some evidence indicates that selection can favor small male size, as well.

Araneids also exhibit a phenomenon called [[sexual cannibalism]], which is commonly found throughout the Araneidae.<ref name="Elga91" /> Evidence suggests a negative correlation between sexual size dimorphism and instances of sexual cannibalism.<ref name="LegrMors00" /> Other evidence, however, has shown that differences in cannibalistic events among araneids when having smaller or slightly larger males is advantageous.<ref name=Elga91/>

Some evidence has shown that extreme dimorphism may be the result of males avoiding detection by the females. For males of these species, being smaller in size may be advantageous in moving to the central hub of a web so female spiders may be less likely to detect the male, or even if detected as prey to be eaten, the small size may indicate little nutritional value. Larger-bodied male araneids may be advantageous when mating on a mating thread because the thread is constructed from the edge of the web orb to structural threads or to nearby vegetation.<ref name=Elga91/> Here larger males may be less likely to be cannibalized, as the males are able to copulate while the female is hanging, which may make them safer from cannibalism.<ref name=Elga91/> In one subfamily of Araneid that uses a mating thread, Gasteracanthinae, sexual cannibalism is apparently absent despite extreme size dimorphism.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Elgar|first1=M. A. |title=Sexual dimorphism in leg-length among orb-weaving spiders: a possible role for sexual cannibalism |journal=Journal of Zoology (London) |year=1990 | volume=220 | issue= 3| pages=455–470 | doi=10.1111/j.1469-7998.1990.tb04044.x}}</ref>

==Genera==
{{as of|2024|5}}, the [[World Spider Catalog]] accepts the following genera:<ref name="NMBE">{{cite web |title=Family: Araneidae Clerck, 1757 |url=http://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/family/9 |access-date=2022-12-08 |website=World Spider Catalog |publisher=Natural History Museum Bern}}</ref>
*''[[Abba transversa|Abba]]'' <small>Castanheira & Framenau, 2023</small> – Australia (Queensland, New South Wales)
*''[[Acacesia]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> — South America, North America
*''[[Acantharachne]]'' <small>Tullgren, 1910</small> — Congo, Madagascar, Cameroon
*''[[Acanthepeira]]'' <small>Marx, 1883</small> — North America, Brazil, Cuba
*''[[Acroaspis]]'' <small>Karsch, 1878</small> — New Zealand, Australia
*''[[Acrosomoides]]'' <small>Simon, 1887</small> — Madagascar, Cameroon, Congo
*''[[Actinacantha]]'' <small>Simon, 1864</small> — Indonesia
*''[[Actinosoma]]'' <small>Holmberg, 1883</small> — Colombia, Argentina
*''[[Aculepeira]]'' <small>Chamberlin & Ivie, 1942</small> — North America, Central America, South America, Asia, Europe
*''[[Acusilas]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> — Asia
*''[[Aethriscus]]'' <small>Pocock, 1902</small> — Congo
*''[[Aethrodiscus]]'' <small>Strand, 1913</small> — Central Africa
*''[[Aetrocantha]]'' <small>Karsch, 1879</small> — Central Africa
*''[[Afracantha]]'' <small>Dahl, 1914</small> — Africa
*''[[Agalenatea]]'' <small>Archer, 1951</small> — Ethiopia, Asia
*''[[Alenatea]]'' <small>Song & Zhu, 1999</small> — Asia
*''[[Allocyclosa]]'' <small>Levi, 1999</small> — United States, Panama, Cuba
*''[[Alpaida (spider)|Alpaida]]'' <small>O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1889</small> — Central America, South America, Mexico, Caribbean
*''[[Amazonepeira]]'' <small>Levi, 1989</small> — South America
*''[[Anepsion]]'' <small>Strand, 1929</small> — Oceania, Asia
*''[[Aoaraneus]]'' <small>Tanikawa, Yamasaki & Petcharad, 2021</small> — China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan
*''[[Arachnura]]'' <small>Clerck, 1863</small>
*''[[Araneus]]'' <small>Clerck, 1757</small>
*''[[Araniella]]'' <small>Chamberlin & Ivie, 1942</small> — Asia
*''[[Aranoethra]]'' <small>Butler, 1873</small> — Africa
*''[[Argiope (spider)|Argiope]]'' <small>Audouin, 1826</small> — Asia, Oceania, Africa, North America, South America, Costa Rica, Cuba, Portugal
*''[[Artifex (spider)|Artifex]]'' <small>Kallal & Hormiga, 2018</small> — Australia
*''[[Artonis]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> — Myanmar, Ethiopia
*''[[Aspidolasius]]'' <small>Simon, 1887</small> — South America
*''[[Augusta glyphica|Augusta]]'' <small>O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1877</small> — Madagascar
*''[[Austracantha]]'' <small>Dahl, 1914</small> — Australia
*''[[Backobourkia]]'' <small>Framenau, Dupérré, Blackledge & Vink, 2010</small> — Australia, New Zealand
*''[[Bertrana]]'' <small>Keyserling, 1884</small> — South America, Central America
*''[[Bijoaraneus]]'' <small>Tanikawa, Yamasaki & Petcharad, 2021</small> — Africa, Asia, Oceania
*''[[Caerostris]]'' <small>Thorell, 1868</small> — Africa, Asia
*''[[Carepalxis]]'' <small>L. Koch, 1872</small> — Oceania, South America, Mexico, Jamaica
*''[[Celaenia]]'' <small>Thorell, 1868</small> — Australia, New Zealand
*''[[Cercidia]]'' <small>Thorell, 1869</small> — Russia, Kazakhstan, India
*''[[Chorizopes]]'' <small>O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1871</small> — Asia, Madagascar
*''[[Chorizopesoides]]'' <small>Mi & Wang, 2018</small> — China, Vietnam
*''[[Cladomelea]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> — South Africa, Congo
*''[[Clitaetra]]'' <small>Simon, 1889</small> — Africa, Sri Lanka
*''[[Cnodalia]]'' <small>Thorell, 1890</small> — Indonesia, Japan
*''[[Coelossia]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> — Sierra Leone, Mauritius, Madagascar
*''[[Colaranea]]'' <small>Court & Forster, 1988</small> — New Zealand
*''[[Collina glabicira|Collina]]'' <small>Urquhart, 1891</small> — Australia
*''[[Colphepeira]]'' <small>Archer, 1941</small> — United States, Mexico
*''[[Courtaraneus]]'' <small>Framenau, Vink, McQuillan & Simpson, 2022</small> — New Zealand
*''[[Cryptaranea]]'' <small>Court & Forster, 1988</small> — New Zealand
*''[[Cyclosa]]'' <small>Menge, 1866</small> — Caribbean, Asia, Oceania, South America, North America, Central America, Africa, Europe
*''[[Cyphalonotus]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> — Asia, Africa
*''[[Cyrtarachne]]'' <small>Thorell, 1868</small> — Asia, Africa, Oceania
*''[[Cyrtobill]]'' <small>Framenau & Scharff, 2009</small> — Australia
*''[[Cyrtophora]]'' <small>Simon, 1864</small> — Asia, Oceania, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, South America, Africa
*''[[Deione]]'' <small>Thorell, 1898</small> — Myanmar
*''[[Deliochus]]'' <small>Simon, 1894</small> — Australia, Papua New Guinea
*''[[Dolophones]]'' <small>Walckenaer, 1837</small> — Australia, Indonesia
*''[[Dubiepeira]]'' <small>Levi, 1991</small> — South America
*''[[Edricus]]'' <small>O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1890</small> — Mexico, Panama, Ecuador
*''[[Enacrosoma]]'' <small>Mello-Leitão, 1932</small> — South America, Central America, Mexico
*''[[Encyosaccus]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> — South America
*''[[Epeiroides]]'' <small>Keyserling, 1885</small> — Costa Rica, Brazil
*''[[Eriophora]]'' <small>Simon, 1864</small> — North America, South America, Central America, Africa, Asia
*''[[Eriovixia]]'' <small>Archer, 1951</small> — Asia, Papua New Guinea, Africa
*''[[Eustacesia]]'' <small>Caporiacco, 1954</small> — French Guiana
*''[[Eustala]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> — South America, North America, Central America, Caribbean
*''[[Exechocentrus]]'' <small>Simon, 1889</small> — Madagascar
*''[[Faradja]]'' <small>Grasshoff, 1970</small> — Congo
*''[[Friula]]'' <small>O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897</small> — Indonesia
*''[[Galaporella]]'' <small>Levi, 2009</small> — Ecuador
*''[[Gasteracantha]]'' <small>Sundevall, 1833</small> — Oceania, Asia, United States, Africa, Chile
*''[[Gastroxya]]'' <small>Benoit, 1962</small> — Africa
*''[[Gea (spider)|Gea]]'' <small>C. L. Koch, 1843</small> — Africa, Oceania, Asia, United States, Argentina
*''[[Gibbaranea]]'' <small>Archer, 1951</small> — Asia, Europe, Algeria
*''[[Glyptogona]]'' <small>Simon, 1884</small> — Sri Lanka, Italy, Israel
*''[[Gnolus]]'' <small>Simon, 1879</small> — Chile, Argentina
*''[[Guizygiella]]'' <small>Zhu, Kim & Song, 1997</small> — Asia
*''[[Herennia]]'' <small>Thorell, 1877</small> — Asia, Oceania
*''[[Heterognatha]]'' <small>Nicolet, 1849</small> — Chile
*''[[Heurodes]]'' <small>Keyserling, 1886</small> — Asia, Australia
*''[[Hingstepeira]]'' <small>Levi, 1995</small> — South America
*''[[Hortophora]]'' <small>Framenau & Castanheira, 2021</small> — Oceania
*''[[Hypognatha]]'' <small>Guérin, 1839</small> — South America, Central America, Mexico, Trinidad
*''[[Hypsacantha]]'' <small>Dahl, 1914</small> — Africa
*''[[Hypsosinga]]'' <small>Ausserer, 1871</small> — Asia, North America, Greenland, Africa
*''[[Ideocaira]]'' <small>Simon, 1903</small> — South Africa
*''[[Indoetra]]'' <small>Kuntner, 2006</small> — Sri Lanka
*''[[Box kite spider|Isoxya]]'' <small>Simon, 1885</small> — Africa, Yemen
*''[[Kaira (spider)|Kaira]]'' <small>O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1889</small> — North America, South America, Cuba, Guatemala
*''[[Kangaraneus]]'' <small>Castanheira & Framenau, 2023</small> — Australia
*''[[Kapogea]]'' <small>Levi, 1997</small> — Mexico, South America, Central America
*''[[Kilima]]'' <small>Grasshoff, 1970</small> — Congo, Seychelles, Yemen
*''[[Larinia]]'' <small>Simon, 1874</small> — Asia, Africa, South America, Europe, Oceania, North America
*''[[Lariniaria]]'' <small>Grasshoff, 1970</small> — Asia
*''[[Larinioides]]'' <small>Caporiacco, 1934</small> — Asia
*''[[Lariniophora]]'' <small>Framenau, 2011</small> — Australia
*''[[Leviana]]'' <small>Framenau & Kuntner, 2022</small> — Australia
*''[[Leviaraneus]]'' <small>Tanikawa & Petcharad, 2023</small> — Asia
*''[[Leviellus]]'' <small>Wunderlich, 2004</small> — Asia, France
*''[[Lewisepeira]]'' <small>Levi, 1993</small> — Panama, Mexico, Jamaica
*''[[Lipocrea]]'' <small>Thorell, 1878</small> — Asia, Europe
*''[[Macracantha]]'' <small>Simon, 1864</small> — India, China, Indonesia
*''[[Madacantha]]'' <small>Emerit, 1970</small> — Madagascar
*''[[Mahembea]]'' <small>Grasshoff, 1970</small> — Central and East Africa
*''[[Mangora (spider)|Mangora]]'' <small>O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1889</small> — Asia, North America, South America, Central America, Caribbean
*''[[Mangrovia]]'' <small>Framenau & Castanheira, 2022</small> — Australia
*''[[Manogea]]'' <small>Levi, 1997</small> — South America, Central America, Mexico
*''[[Mastophora (spider)|Mastophora]]'' <small>Holmberg, 1876</small> — South America, North America, Central America, Cuba
*''[[Mecynogea]]'' <small>Simon, 1903</small> — North America, South America, Cuba
*''[[Megaraneus]]'' <small>Lawrence, 1968</small> — Africa
*''[[Melychiopharis]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> — Brazil
*''[[Metazygia]]'' <small>F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1904</small> — South America, Central America, North America, Caribbean
*''[[Metepeira]]'' <small>F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1903</small> — North America, Caribbean, South America, Central America
*''[[Micrathena]]'' <small>Sundevall, 1833</small> — South America, Caribbean, Central America, North America
*''[[Micrepeira]]'' <small>Schenkel, 1953</small> — South America, Costa Rica
*''[[Micropoltys]]'' <small>Kulczyński, 1911</small> — Papua New Guinea, Australia
*''[[Milonia]]'' <small>Thorell, 1890</small> — Singapore, Indonesia, Myanmar
*''[[Molinaranea]]'' <small>Mello-Leitão, 1940</small> — Chile, Argentina
*''[[Nemoscolus]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> — Africa
*''[[Nemosinga]]'' <small>Caporiacco, 1947</small> — Tanzania
*''[[Nemospiza]]'' <small>Simon, 1903</small> — South Africa
*''[[Neogea]]'' <small>Levi, 1983</small> — Papua New Guinea, India, Indonesia
*''[[Neoscona]]'' <small>Simon, 1864</small> — Asia, Africa, Europe, Oceania, North America, Cuba, South America
*''[[Nephila]]'' <small>Leach, 1815</small> — Asia, Oceania, United States, Africa, South America
*''[[Nephilengys]]'' <small>L. Koch, 1872</small> — Asia, Oceania
*''[[Nephilingis]]'' <small>Kuntner, 2013</small> — South America, Africa
*''[[Nicolepeira]]'' <small>Levi, 2001</small> — Chile
*''[[Novakiella]]'' <small>Court & Forster, 1993</small> — Australia, New Zealand
*''[[Novaranea]]'' <small>Court & Forster, 1988</small> — Australia, New Zealand
*''[[Nuctenea]]'' <small>Simon, 1864</small> — Algeria, Asia, Europe
*''[[Oarces]]'' <small>Simon, 1879</small> — Brazil, Chile, Argentina
*''[[Ocrepeira]]'' <small>Marx, 1883</small> — South America, Central America, Caribbean, North America
*''[[Ordgarius]]'' <small>Keyserling, 1886</small> — Asia, Oceania
*''[[Paralarinia]]'' <small>Grasshoff, 1970</small> — Congo, South Africa
*''[[Paraplectana]]'' <small>Brito Capello, 1867</small> — Asia, Africa
*''[[Paraplectanoides]]'' <small>Keyserling, 1886</small> — Australia
*''[[Pararaneus]]'' <small>Caporiacco, 1940</small> — Madagascar
*''[[Paraverrucosa]]'' <small>Mello-Leitão, 1939</small> — South America
*''[[Parawixia]]'' <small>F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1904</small> — Mexico, South America, Asia, Papua New Guinea, Central America, Trinidad
*''[[Parmatergus]]'' <small>Emerit, 1994</small> — Madagascar
*''[[Pasilobus]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> — Africa, Asia
*''[[Perilla (spider)|Perilla]]'' <small>Thorell, 1895</small> — Myanmar, Vietnam, Malaysia
*''[[Pherenice]]'' <small>Thorell, 1899</small> — Cameroon
*''[[Phonognatha]]'' <small>Simon, 1894</small> — Australia
*''[[Pitharatus]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> — Malaysia, Indonesia
*''[[Plebs (spider)|Plebs]]'' <small>Joseph & Framenau, 2012</small> — Oceania, Asia
*''[[Poecilarcys]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> — Tunisia
*''[[Poecilopachys]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> — Oceania
*''[[Poltys (spider)|Poltys]]'' <small>C. L. Koch, 1843</small> — Asia, Africa, Oceania
*''[[Popperaneus]]'' <small>Cabra-García & Hormiga, 2020</small> — Brazil, Paraguay
*''[[Porcataraneus]]'' <small>Mi & Peng, 2011</small> — India, China
*''[[Pozonia]]'' <small>Schenkel, 1953</small> — Caribbean, Paraguay, Mexico, Panama
*''[[Prasonica]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> — Africa, Asia, Oceania
*''[[Prasonicella]]'' <small>Grasshoff, 1971</small> — Madagascar, Seychelles
*''[[Pronoides]]'' <small>Schenkel, 1936</small> — Asia
*''[[Pronous]]'' <small>Keyserling, 1881</small> — Malaysia, Mexico, Central America, South America, Madagascar
*''[[Pseudartonis]]'' <small>Simon, 1903</small> — Africa
*''[[Pseudopsyllo]]'' <small>Strand, 1916</small> — Cameroon
*''[[Psyllo]]'' <small>Thorell, 1899</small> — Cameroon, Congo
*''[[Pycnacantha]]'' <small>Blackwall, 1865</small> — Africa
*''[[Rubrepeira]]'' <small>Levi, 1992</small> — Mexico, Brazil
*''[[Salsa (spider)|Salsa]]'' <small>Framenau & Castanheira, 2022</small> — Australia, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea
*''[[Scoloderus]]'' <small>Simon, 1887</small> — Belize, North America, Argentina, Caribbean
*''[[Sedasta]]'' <small>Simon, 1894</small> — West Africa
*''[[Singa (spider)|Singa]]'' <small>C. L. Koch, 1836</small> — Africa, Asia, North America, Europe
*''[[Singafrotypa]]'' <small>Benoit, 1962</small> — Africa
*''[[Siwa (spider)|Siwa]]'' <small>Grasshoff, 1970</small> — Asia
*''[[Socca (spider)|Socca]]'' <small>Framenau, Castanheira & Vink, 2022</small> — Australia
*''[[Spilasma]]'' <small>Simon, 1897</small> — South America, Honduras
*''[[Spinepeira]]'' <small>Levi, 1995</small> — Peru
*''[[Spintharidius]]'' <small>Simon, 1893</small> — South America, Cuba
*''[[Taczanowskia]]'' <small>Keyserling, 1879</small> — Mexico, South America
*''[[Talthybia]]'' <small>Thorell, 1898</small> — China, Myanmar
*''[[Tatepeira]]'' <small>Levi, 1995</small> — South America, Honduras
*''[[Telaprocera]]'' <small>Harmer & Framenau, 2008</small> — Australia
*''[[Testudinaria]]'' <small>Taczanowski, 1879</small> — South America, Panama
*''[[Thelacantha]]'' <small>Hasselt, 1882</small> — Madagascar, Asia, Australia
*''[[Thorellina]]'' <small>Berg, 1899</small> — Myanmar, Papua New Guinea
*''[[Togacantha]]'' <small>Dahl, 1914</small> — Africa
*''[[Trichonephila]]'' <small>Dahl, 1911</small> — Africa, Asia, Oceania, North America, South America
*''[[Umbonata]]'' <small>Grasshoff, 1971</small> — Tanzania
*''[[Ursa (spider)|Ursa]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> — Asia, South America, South Africa
*''[[Venomius]]'' <small>Rossi, Castanheira, Baptista & Framenau, 2023</small> — Australia
*''[[Verrucosa]]'' <small>McCook, 1888</small> — North America, Panama, South America, Australia
*''[[Wagneriana]]'' <small>F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1904</small> — South America, Central America, Caribbean, North America
*''[[Witica (spider)|Witica]]'' <small>O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1895</small> — Cuba, Mexico, Peru
*''[[Wixia]]'' <small>O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1882</small> — Brazil, Guyana, Bolivia
*''[[Xylethrus]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> — South America, Mexico, Jamaica, Panama
*''[[Yaginumia]]'' <small>Archer, 1960</small> — Asia
*''[[Zealaranea]]'' <small>Court & Forster, 1988</small> — New Zealand
*''[[Zilla (spider)|Zilla]]'' <small>C. L. Koch, 1834</small> — Azerbaijan, India, China
*''[[Zygiella]]'' <small>F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1902</small> — North America, Asia, Ukraine, South America

==See also==
{{Portal|Arthropods}}
* [[List of Araneidae species]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name=Alford>{{cite web |last1=Alford |first1=Justine |title=Orb-Weaver Spiders Stuff A Treatment Plant With A 4-Acre Web |url=http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/107-million-orb-weavers-stuff-treatment-plant-4-acre-web |website=IFLScience |access-date=6 April 2015 |date=2 November 2014}}</ref>

<ref name=Blac09>{{cite journal|first1=Todd A. |last1=Blackledge |first2=Nikolaj |last2=Scharff |first3=Jonathan A. |last3=Coddington |first4=Tamas |last4=Szüts |first5=John W. |last5=Wenzel |first6=Cheryl Y. |last6=Hayashi |first7=Ingi |last7=Agnarsson |year=2009 |title=Reconstructing web evolution and spider diversification in the molecular era |journal=[[Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences]] |volume=106 |issue=13 |pages=5229–5234 |pmid=19289848 |pmc=2656561 |doi=10.1073/pnas.0901377106 |bibcode=2009PNAS..106.5229B |name-list-style=amp|doi-access=free }}</ref>

<ref name=BlacWenz00>{{cite journal |first1=Todd A. |last1=Blackledge |first2=John W. |last2=Wenzel |year=2000 |title=The evolution of cryptic spider silk: a behavioral test |journal=[[Behavioral Ecology (journal)|Behavioral Ecology]] |volume=11 |issue=2 |pages=142–145 |doi=10.1093/beheco/11.2.142 |name-list-style=amp|doi-access= }}</ref>

<ref name=Codd86>{{cite book |first1=Jonathan A. |last1=Coddington |year=1986 |chapter=The monophyletic origin of the orb web |pages=[https://archive.org/details/spiderswebsbehav00shea/page/319 319–363] |editor1-first=William A. |editor1-last=Shear |title=Spiders: webs, behavior, and evolution |publisher=Stanford University Press |location=Stanford CA |isbn=978-0-8047-1203-3 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rc6Vz-cWickC&pg=PA319 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/spiderswebsbehav00shea/page/319 }}</ref>

<ref name=Elga91>{{cite journal |last1=Elgar |first1=Mark |title=Sexual Cannibalism, Size Dimorphism, and Courtship Behavior in Orb-Weaving Spiders (Araneidae) |journal=Evolution |date=1991 |volume=45 |issue=2 |pages=444–448 |jstor=2409679 |doi=10.2307/2409679|pmid=28567867 }}</ref>

<ref name=GarbDemaVoHaya06>{{cite journal |first1=Jessica E. |last1=Garb |first2=Teresa |last2=DiMauro |first3=Victoria |last3=Vo |first4=Cheryl Y. |last4=Hayashi |year=2006 |title=Silk genes support the single origin of orb webs |journal=[[Science (journal)|Science]] |volume=312 |issue=5781 |page=1762 |pmid=16794073 |doi=10.1126/science.1127946 |name-list-style=amp|citeseerx=10.1.1.623.4339 |s2cid=889557 }}</ref>

<ref name=GustSchaCodd00>{{cite journal |last1=Gustavo |first1=H. |last2=Scharff |first2=N. |last3=Coddington |first3=J. |date=2000 |title=The Phylogenetic Basis of Sexual Size Dimorphism in Orb-Weaving Spiders (Araneae, Orbiculariae) |journal=Systematic Biology |volume=49 |issue=3 |pages=435–462 |name-list-style=amp |doi=10.1080/10635159950127330|pmid=12116421 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

<ref name=LegrMors00>{{cite journal |last1=Legrand |first1=R.S. |last2=Morse |first2=D.H. |date=2000 |doi=10.1111/j.1095-8312.2000.tb01283.x |title=Factors driving extreme sexual size dimorphism of a sit-and-wait predator under low density |journal=Biological Journal of the Linnean Society |volume=71 |issue=4 |pages=643–664 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

<ref name=MW_orb>{{cite web |title=orb |website=Merriam-Webster Dictionary |url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orb |access-date=5 December 2015}}</ref>

<ref name=PenaGrimDelc06>{{cite journal |first1=Enrique |last1=Peñalver |first2=David A. |last2=Grimaldi |first3=Xavier |last3=Delclòs |year=2006 |title=Early Cretaceous spider web with its prey |journal=[[Science (journal)|Science]] |volume=312 |issue=5781 |page=1761 |pmid=16794072 |doi=10.1126/science.1126628 |s2cid=34828913 |name-list-style=amp }}</ref>

<ref name=PennOrtu06>{{cite journal |first1=David |last1=Penney |first2=Vicente M. |last2=Ortuño |year=2006 |title=Oldest true orb-weaving spider (Araneae: Araneidae) |journal=[[Biology Letters]] |volume=2 |issue=3 |pages=447–450 |doi=10.1098/rsbl.2006.0506 |pmid=17148427 |pmc=1686203 |name-list-style=amp}}</ref>

<ref name=SchnGilbFromUhl06>{{cite journal |last1=Schneider |first1=J.M. |last2=Gilberg |first2=S. |last3=Fromhage |first3=L. |last4=Uhl |first4=G. |title=Sexual conflict over copulation duration in a cannibalistic spider |journal=Animal Behaviour |date=2006 |volume=71 |issue=4 |pages=781–788 |doi=10.1016/j.anbehav.2005.05.012 |s2cid=53171331 |name-list-style=amp }}</ref>

<ref name=Shea86>{{cite book |first1=William A. |last1=Shear |year=1986 |chapter=The evolution of web-building behavior in spiders: a third generation of hypotheses |pages=[https://archive.org/details/spiderswebsbehav00shea/page/364 364–400] |editor1-first=William A. |editor1-last=Shear |title=Spiders: webs, behavior, and evolution |publisher=[[Stanford University Press]] |location=Stanford CA |isbn=978-0-8047-1203-3 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rc6Vz-cWickC&pg=PA364 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/spiderswebsbehav00shea/page/364 }}</ref>

<ref name=Smithsonian>{{cite journal |title=Detangling History |journal=[[Smithsonian (magazine)|Smithsonian]] |date=September 2006 |page=24}} "Two pieces of Spanish [[amber]] contain the oldest known spider web and orb–weaving spider; both specimens are at least 110 million years old. The new findings, along with an analysis of the proteins in spider silk, indicate that orb–weaving spiders date as far back as 144 million years."</ref>

<ref name=VollSeld07>{{cite journal |first1=Fritz |last1=Vollrath |first2=Paul |last2=Selden |year=2007 |title=The role of behavior in the evolution of spiders, silks, and webs |journal=[[Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics]] |volume=38 |pages=819–846 |doi=10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.37.091305.110221 |s2cid=54518303 |name-list-style=amp }}</ref>

<ref name=WelkSchn10>{{cite journal |last1=Welke |first1=K.W. |last2=Schneider |first2=J.M. |title=Males of the orb-web spider ''Argiope bruennichi'' sacrifice themselves to unrelated females |journal=Biol. Lett. |volume=6 |issue=5 |pages=585–588 |year=2010 |pmid=20410027 |pmc=2936157 |doi=10.1098/rsbl.2010.0214 |name-list-style=amp}}</ref>

<ref name=WSC_stats>{{cite web |title=Currently valid spider genera and species |website=World Spider Catalog |publisher=Natural History Museum, Bern |url=http://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/statistics/ |access-date=16 August 2017}}</ref>
}}

==Further reading==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Crompton |first=John |date=1950 |title=The Life of the Spider |location=New York |publisher=Mentor |oclc=610423670 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Dondale |first1=C. D. |first2=J. H. |last2=Redner |first3=P. |last3=Paquin |first4=H. W. |last4=Levi |date=2003 |title=The Orb-Weaving Spiders of Canada and Alaska. Araneae: Uloboridae, Tetragnathidae, Araneidae, Theridiosomatidae |series=Insects and Arachnids of Canada |volume=23 |publisher=NRC Research Press |location=Ottawa |isbn=978-0-660-18898-0 }}
* {{cite book |last=Kaston |first=B. J. |author-link=B. J. Kaston |date=1953 |title=How to Know the Spiders |url=https://archive.org/details/howtoknowspiders0000kast |url-access=registration |edition=1st |series=Pictured key nature series |publisher=W. C. Brown Co. |location=Dubuque, IA |oclc=681432632 }}
* {{cite journal |last=Levi |first=H. W. |date=1993 |title=The new orb-weaver genus ''Lewisepeira'' (Araneae: Araneidae) |journal=[[Psyche (entomological journal)|Psyche: A Journal of Entomology]] |volume=100 |issue=3–4 |pages=127–136 |doi=10.1155/1993/97657 |doi-access=free }}
* {{cite book |last=Main |first=Barbara York |author-link=Barbara York Main |date=1976 |title=Spiders |edition=2nd |series=Australian Naturalist Library |location=Sydney |publisher=Collins |oclc=849736139 }}
* {{cite book |last=Foelix |first=Rainer F. |date=1996 |title=Biology of Spiders |url=https://archive.org/details/biologyofspiders00foel_0 |url-access=registration |edition=2nd |location=New York |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-509594-4 |oclc=300192823 }}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Araneidae}}
{{Wikispecies|Araneidae}}
* [http://www.xs4all.nl/~ednieuw/australian/Spidaus.html Spiders of Australia]
* [http://www.xs4all.nl/~ednieuw/Spiders/spidhome.htm Spiders of northwestern Europe]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20031208183121/http://www.arachnology.org/Arachnology/Pages/Araneae.html Araneae], Arachnology Home Pages
* [http://www.wsc.nmbe.ch World Spider Catalog]
* [http://www.uky.edu/Agriculture/CritterFiles/casefile/spiders/orbweavers/orb.htm Orb weavers of Kentucky], [[University of Kentucky]]
* [http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/subimages.cfm?SUB=13793 Pictures of ''Mangora'' species]
* [http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/beneficial/g_cancriformis.htm ''Gasteracantha cancriformis'', spinybacked orbweaver] on the [[University of Florida]]/[[Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences]] ''Featured Creatures'' website
* [http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/misc/spiders/neoscona.htm ''Neoscona crucifera'' and ''N. domiciliorum''] on the [[University of Florida]]/[[Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences]] ''Featured Creatures'' website HOE

{{Araneae}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q5883}}
{{Authority control}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Orb-weaver spider}}
[[Category:Araneidae| ]]