Orb weavers

Orb weaver spiders are the makers of the classic orb webs frequently seen in gardens, fields and forests. Their wheel-shaped webs consist of concentric circles with spokes radiating out from the centre and can measure a metre wide - plenty of space to trap hapless insects in the sticky silk. A beautifully coloured large abdomen and small head is noticeable in the females of most species. The males are generally smaller, don't usually build webs and spend most of their time wandering in search of a mate. Of the 3,500 species or weaver, many are well known, and none more so than the common garden spider of North America and Europe.

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