YD0705 Spiny Spider

Spiny Spiders (Micrathena gracilis, family Araneidae, order Araneae) are also called Orb Web Spiders. These spiders often have very large abdomens, which can be brightly coloured and patterned. In some species, the abdomen may have a strange, angular shape. The legs have three claws and can be very spiny. They have eight eyes ¡V the middle four often forming a square. Males are often smaller than females. The webs often have a central hub with radiating lines and spirals. Certain species do not make webs at all. Instead, they ensnare moths after dark using a single thread with a bead of glue at the end. Mating involves complex courtship. Silk egg sacs are kept camouflaged inside the web, stuck to vegetation or bark, or buried in leaf-litter. They can be found worldwide in a wide variety of different habitats, including grassland, meadows, forests and garden. Some tropical species make huge , strong webs and have been known to catch and eat birds.