Hobbies And Interests
Writing Spiders
Black and yellow argiope spiders (Argiope aurantia), along with others in the same genus, are known as writing spiders because of the zigzag patterns they make in their webs. With a body length of over an inch and a leg span of up to three inches, these spiders can be intimidating in size, but their bite is usually harmless. Writing spiders usually repair or rebuild their webs after dark; as long as they are not disturbed and do not run out of prey, they will rebuild their web in the same place.
Three-Clawed Feet
Orb-weaver spiders build more intricate webs than other spiders, but they have an advantage -- while most spiders have two claws per foot, orb-weavers have three. They use their extra claw to help control the silk threads as they spin their webs. Their webs, which they use to catch food and transmit mating signals, can span up to two feet. Like other spiders, orb-weavers eat their webs before rebuilding them.
Strange Shapes
Orb-weaver spiders usually have big, spherical abdomens. However, some orb-weavers have oddly shaped bodies. Spiders in the genus Micrathena have vibrantly colored abdomens with spines or spikes. For instance, the Arrow-shaped micrathena (Micrathena sagittata) has an abdomen shaped like an arrowhead and the spiked micrathena (Micrathena gracilis) has an oblong abdomen with a number of spiky projections.
Beneficial Spiders
Orb-weaver spiders might look scary, but they are actually beneficial to humans. These arachnids catch house pests such as ants, mosquitoes and flies in their webs, along with insect pests such as moths and beetles that can harm crops. These spiders typically do not bite, and when they do, their bite is only harmful to allergic individuals.