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The orb-weaver spiders (family Araneidae) are the builders of spiral wheel-shaped webs often found in gardens, fields and forests. The family is a large one, including over 2800 species in over 160 genera worldwide, making it the third largest family of spiders known (behind Salticidae and Linyphiidae). The oldest known orb-weaving spider is Mesozygiella dunlopi, with specimens in amber dating from the Early Cretaceous.

Generally, orb-weaving spiders are three-clawed builders of flat webs with sticky spiral capture silk. The building of a web is an engineering feat, begun when the spider floats a line on the wind to another surface. The spider secures the line and then drops another line from the center, making a “Y”. The rest of the scaffolding follows with many radii of non-sticky silk being constructed before a final spiral of sticky capture silk. The third claw is used to walk on the non-sticky part of the web. Characteristically, the prey insect that blunders into the sticky lines is stunned by a quick bite and then wrapped in silk. If the prey is a venomous insect, such as a wasp, wrapping may precede biting.

The categorization into subfamilies and tribes follows Joel Hallan’s Biology Catalog.

The Nephilidae have been elevated to family status in 2006. Some researchers also consider the genera Leviellus, Parazygiella, Stroemiellus and Zygiella to reside in the family Zygiellidae.

Araneinae Simon, 1895

Anepsiini

Arachnurini

Araneini

Arkycini

Bertranini

Celaenini

Cyclosini

Dolophonini

Exechocentrini

Heterognathini

Hypognathini

Mangorini

Poltyini

Pseudartonini

Testudinarini

Ursini

incertae sedis

Glyptogona Simon, 1884

Argiopinae

Cyrtarachninae Simon

Cyrtarachnini Simon

Mastophorini

Cyrtophorinae

Gasteracanthinae

Caerostrini

Gasteracanthini

Micratheninae

incertae sedis

Artonis Simon, 1895

Colphepeira Archer, 1941

Enacrosoma Mello-Leitão, 1932

Encyosaccus Simon, 1895

Melychiopharis Simon, 1895

Micrepeira Schenkel, 1953

Parmatergus Emerit, 1994

Pronous Keyserling, 1881

Sedasta Simon, 1894

Singafrotypa Benoit, 1962

Tethneus Scudder, 1890 † (fossil, oligocene)

Tethneus guyoti (Scudder, 1890) †

Tethneus henzii (Scudder) †

Tethneus robustus (Petrunkevitch) †