Orb-weaver spider
An orb-weaver spider is a spider in the family Araneidae, typically known for building flat, circular webs of radiating spokes and spiral threads.
Orb web: A roughly circular spider web formed from radiating threads crossed by a spiral capture thread. Its spoke-and-spiral architecture is the characteristic structure built by many orb-weavers.
Araneidae: A diverse family of spiders that includes many familiar orb-weaving species. Orb-weavers in the stated sense belong to this family.
European garden spider: A widespread European orb-weaver, Araneus diadematus, marked by a pale cross on its abdomen. This familiar araneid builds the classic garden orb web.
Cobweb spider: A spider in the family Theridiidae, commonly associated with irregular three-dimensional webs. Theridiid webs lack the orderly planar spoke-and-spiral form typical of orb-weavers.
Spider silk: Protein fibers produced by spiders for webs, draglines, egg sacs, and other uses. Orb-weavers use different silk types for structural threads and sticky capture spirals.
Spider: An arachnid with two main body regions, eight legs, and usually silk-producing organs. Orb-weavers share the defining body plan and silk-producing anatomy of spiders.
Golden silk orb-weaver: A large tropical and subtropical spider in the genus Trichonephila, known for golden web silk. Its conspicuous webs illustrate variation in silk color and orb-weaver size.
Sheet web: A horizontal or sloping silk sheet used by spiders to intercept prey. Sheet webs catch prey with a surface rather than an orb's radiating spokes and capture spiral.
Web-building behavior: The sequence of actions spiders use to construct webs from silk. Orb construction is a repeatable behavioral sequence, not simply the secretion of silk.
Arachnid: A joint-legged invertebrate in the class Arachnida, including spiders, scorpions, and mites. Spiders, including orb-weavers, are arachnids rather than insects.