Orb-Weaver Spider
(Araneidae family)
Colorful garden spiders known for building large, circular webs in yards and around porches.
Overview
Orb-weaver spiders are among the most commonly seen spiders in Bowling Green yards and gardens. They are the architects of the classic circular webs that appear overnight on porches, between shrubs, and across walkways. While their large size and elaborate webs can be startling, orb-weavers are harmless to humans and are actually highly beneficial — they consume enormous numbers of mosquitoes, flies, and other flying insects. They are most abundant in late summer and early fall.
Appearance
Orb-weavers are a large and diverse group. Most species have a prominent, rounded abdomen that can be brightly colored or patterned. Common species include the yellow garden spider (Argiope aurantia) with its bold black-and-yellow markings, and the spotted orbweaver with orange and brown patterns. Their legs are long and often banded. Body size ranges from 1/4 to over 1 inch, and including legs, some species can span 2 to 3 inches.
Habitat
Orb-weavers build their signature circular webs in open areas where flying insects are likely to travel — between shrubs, across porches, in garden spaces, and around outdoor lighting. They typically rebuild their webs daily, often consuming the old web before spinning a new one. They are rarely found indoors. Most are nocturnal, building webs in the evening and sitting in the center waiting for prey.
Diet
Orb-weavers feed exclusively on flying insects caught in their webs, including mosquitoes, flies, moths, beetles, and wasps. They detect prey through vibrations in the web, quickly wrapping captured insects in silk.
Lifecycle
Females produce large, rounded egg sacs in fall, typically hidden among leaves or in sheltered crevices. Spiderlings emerge in spring and gradually build larger webs as they grow. Most orb-weavers live only one season — adults die after the first hard frost, leaving their egg sacs to hatch the following spring.
Signs of Infestation
- !Large, circular, symmetrical webs appearing overnight on porches or between plants
- !A large, colorful spider sitting in the center of the web
- !Zigzag patterns (stabilimenta) woven into the center of some species' webs
- !Egg sacs attached to nearby surfaces in fall
Prevention Tips
- ✓Reduce outdoor lighting that attracts the flying insects orb-weavers eat
- ✓Sweep away webs regularly from porches and walkways
- ✓Trim vegetation away from doorways and high-traffic areas
- ✓Switch to yellow or sodium-vapor outdoor lights
Professional Treatment
Orb-weavers rarely require professional treatment since they are beneficial and do not infest homes. If webs are unwanted in high-traffic areas, regular web removal discourages them from rebuilding in the same spot. Perimeter pest treatments that reduce flying insect populations also reduce orb-weaver activity around the home.
Did You Know?
- •Many orb-weavers eat their old web each morning and rebuild a new one each evening.
- •The silk of some orb-weaver species is stronger per weight than steel.
- •The yellow garden spider's zigzag web pattern (stabilimentum) may help attract insect prey.
- •A single orb-weaver can consume hundreds of mosquitoes and flies in a season.
1/4 to 1 inch body
Varies widely — yellow, orange, brown, black, or multicolored
8
Large, round abdomen
Garden spider, Barn spider, Writing spider
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Other Spiders in Our Library
Brown Recluse Spider
A venomous spider identified by the violin-shaped marking on its back, common in Kentucky homes.
Wolf Spider
Large, fast, hairy spiders that hunt on the ground rather than building webs.
Black Widow Spider
A venomous spider recognized by its shiny black body and distinctive red hourglass marking.
Cellar Spider
Delicate, long-legged spiders that build messy webs in corners of basements and cellars.