Orb Weaver Spider

Natural Habitat

Orb weavers are found worldwide in a variety of habitats, including gardens, forests, fields, and around human dwellings. They typically build their webs in open spaces between plants, trees, or structures where insects are likely to fly.

Diet & Feeding

Orb weavers are predatory spiders. Their diet consists primarily of small flying insects that get caught in their sticky webs, such as flies, moths, mosquitoes, and beetles. They are sit-and-wait predators, relying on their elaborate webs to capture prey.

Behavior Patterns

Orb weavers are famous for constructing spiral, wheel-shaped webs, often at night. They may dismantle and rebuild their webs daily, especially if the web is damaged or prey capture has been low. Most species are nocturnal, resting during the day and being active at night building or repairing webs and waiting for prey. They are generally solitary creatures.

Risks & Benefits

Orb weaver spiders are generally beneficial to humans as they help control insect populations by preying on common pests. They are not considered dangerous to humans; their venom is not medically significant, and bites are rare, usually occurring only if the spider is directly handled or feels threatened. A bite might cause minor pain, redness, or swelling, similar to a bee sting, but generally no severe reactions.

Identified on: 9/11/2025