Knowra Araneidae Araneidae Araneidae is a diverse family of spiders whose members commonly build exposed, orb-shaped capture webs. Many species rebuild these sticky silk webs regularly.
Spider silk : A protein fiber spun by spiders for webs, egg sacs, draglines, and other uses. Araneids use specialized silks to make frame lines, spokes, and sticky capture spirals.
Web-building behavior : The sequence of behaviors by which an animal constructs a web. Araneids follow patterned sequences to lay web frames, radii, and capture spirals.
Cross orbweaver : A widespread orb-weaving spider, Araneus diadematus, marked by a pale cross on its abdomen. It is a familiar European araneid that builds a large, exposed orb web.
Tetragnathidae : A spider family containing long-jawed orb weavers, many of which build horizontally oriented webs. Its orb-building relatives show that orb webs are not unique to Araneidae.
Orb web : A roughly circular spider web with radiating support lines and a spiral capture thread. The characteristic web form gives Araneidae its familiar name and hunting method.
Viscid silk : Adhesive spider silk coated with droplets that help retain trapped prey. Araneid capture spirals commonly use viscid silk to hold flying insects.
Golden silk orb-weaver : A common name for large Nephila and Trichonephila spiders that make golden-hued orb webs. These araneids demonstrate how orb webs can be unusually large and conspicuous.
Uloboridae : A family of cribellate spiders that build orb webs but lack venom glands. Uloborids make adhesive capture threads without the viscid silk typical of araneids.
Spinneret : A silk-spinning organ on a spider’s abdomen, supplied by silk glands. Spinnerets place the different silk threads used in an araneid web.
Web decoration : A conspicuous structure of silk or other material added to some spider webs. Some araneids add stabilimenta, whose proposed functions include signaling and camouflage.
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