Orb Weaver

Marleia Main

Orb Weaver

Orb Weaver
East Greenbush, N.Y.
August 2008
The orb-weaver spiders (family Araneidae) are the builders of spiral wheel-shaped webs often found in gardens, fields and forests. Their common name is taken from the round shape of this typical web. Orb-weavers have eight similar eyes, legs hairy or spiny and no stridulating organs. The family is cosmopolitan, including many well-known large or brightly colored garden spiders. There are more than 2,800 species in over 160 genera worldwide, making this the third largest family of spiders known (behind Salticidae and Linyphiidae).

The oldest knowns true orb-weaver is Mesozygiella dunlopi, from the Lower Cretaceous. Several fossils provide direct evidence that the three major orb weaving families, namely Araneidae, Tetragnathidae and Uloboridae, had evolved by this time, about 140 million years ago. They probably originated during the Jurassic (200-140 million years ago). All three families very likely have a common origin. (wiki)

Orb Weaver belongs to the following groups:

Arachnids Available for sale as

Greeting Cards and Matted Prints

Orb Weaver by Marleia Main
Orb Weaver by Marleia Main
  • SNAPPYDAVE

    SNAPPYDAVE

    fantastic macro ….. my first reaction was holly shit what is that f—king thing …. i just wanted to share that ….lol

  • Marleia Main replied

    That’s funny!! .. While I was taking these pics I was not paying attention to the spider because I checking something on my camera and it walked on to my hand .. I screamed and jumped the spider flew .. It was horrible! I regained my composure and put the spider back where she belonged – she is fine .. I’m not so sure about myself!! LOL

  • Squealia

    Squealia

    great macro

  • Marleia Main replied

    Thank you so much!! : )

  • Maximus

    Maximus

    Awww gorgeous. :)

  • Marleia Main replied

    Thank you Maximus : )

  • SNAPPYDAVE

    SNAPPYDAVE

    cool … i would have done that just after i s—t myself LOL

  • FelicityB

    FelicityB

    Whichever picture of yours I look at, I’m never disappointed. This one is so detailed.

  • Marleia Main replied

    Wow .. Thank you Felicity!! What a lovely comment .. I am so glad you like them : ) : )

  • Pete Costick

    Pete Costick

    Wow, another fantastic close up photo from you Mareia. I read your comment about how this spider crawled onto your hand and made you jump. I am the same, whilst I love to photogrph spiders, I don’t particularly like the thought of them crawling on me.

  • Marleia Main replied

    Thank you!! I have a “No touch” policy – I try not to touch anything I photograph so the photo remains as natural as possible and I don’t harm anything .. I only wish she had a no touch policy also!! : ) : )

  • Christopher Birtwistle-Smith

    Christopher Bi...

    eeek! favorite eeek!!!!........c xx

  • Marleia Main replied

    Thank you so much .. I bet Mr. Wincy would love her : )

  • KBeyer

    KBeyer

    Wow, Mar. This one is super good. I love it, but it scares me!! Don’t show Jamie Lee!

  • Marleia Main replied

    Hey you .. I’ll try not to : ) Thank you!!

  • SandraRos

    SandraRos

    You are truely a master ! Just look at all those eyes !

  • Marleia Main replied

    Wow .. Thank you so much Sandra!! : )

  • barnsis

    barnsis

    How can any thing that is supposed to be ugly be this beautiful. I guess it is in the eye of the beholder and your images changes how the beholder looks at this monster.

  • Marleia Main replied

    Wow .. That is the nicest compliment any one could receive!! I truly appreciate it!!! : )

  • Glenda  Remaklus

    Glenda Remaklus

    WOW …..great macro!!! Great job Marleia !

  • Marleia Main replied

    Thank you so much Glenda : )

  • jacqi

    jacqi

    I’m kind of fascinated and shuddering at the same time! This is an amazing shot. I’m so glad we don’t get these things here!

  • Marleia Main replied

    Thank you so much : ) .. She seemed to be a very shy spider .. kind of sweet in a way : )

  • MickThow

    MickThow

    another great shot super detail.

  • Marleia Main replied

    Thank you Michael : )

  • Darren Post

    Darren Post

    Fantastic !!

  • Marleia Main replied

    Thank you so much Darren!!

  • krafty

    krafty

    PHEW…your work has me awestruck…you have really captured this fine specimen perfectly…not that I know it’s a fine specimen..living in the U.K we have nothing like this..lol.
    FANBLOODYTASTIC HUN.XXXXXX

  • Marleia Main replied

    Thank you!! Thank you so much Cynthia!! I can’t believe you don’t any of these gorgeous little things in the U.K…... Don’t you wish you did?? LOL

  • BigD

    BigD

    Fantastic

  • Marleia Main replied

    Thanks BigD : )

  • Caren Schwartz

    Caren Schwartz

    HOLY SPIDER LEGS!!! This is fantastic.

  • Marleia Main replied

    Thank you so much Caren : ) : )

  • Ann  Palframan

    Ann Palframan

    Beautiful one, Marleia:-)

  • Marleia Main replied

    Thank you very much Ann: )

  • Sharon Perrett

    Sharon Perrett

    Stunning macro, she’s a real beaut, wonderful clarity and detail.

  • Marleia Main replied

    Thank you Sharon!! I do love Spiders : )

  • Steve  Woodman

    Steve Woodman

    Fantastic shot!

  • Marleia Main replied

    Hi Steve, Thank you so very much : ) : )

  • chazz

    chazz

    Cool spider….Great Shot!!!

  • Marleia Main replied

    Thank you very much Chazz : ) : )

  • wildrider58

    wildrider58

    Orbs are great spiders, well done, just adore all your macro work….

  • Marleia Main replied

    Wow .. Thank you very much : ) I really appreciate that!!! : )

  • Anibal

    Anibal

    WOW.. this is amazing…You made me laugh about the no touching policy (for her)

  • Marleia Main replied

    Thank you so much Anibal : )))))

  • failingjune

    failingjune

    Such an amazing spider :)! Congratz on coming across it!

  • Marleia Main replied

    Oh Thank you so much!! I still see her .. she lives in a rolled up milkweed leaf on a small nature preserve near my house. : ))

  • Jason D. Laderoute

    Jason D. Lader...

    Amazing!!

  • Marleia Main replied

    Hello Jason .. Thank you so much : ))

  • WingsOfAngels

    WingsOfAngels

    fear of spiders here lol but your photo shows how beautiful they are.. the colors are awesome.. Fantastic Macro!

  • Marleia Main replied

    Wow .. Thank you so much .. What a compliment!! : )) I hope people will give spiders and Insects a second look and see their beauty!! I just adore them : ))

  • Babbler

    Babbler

    superb !

  • Marleia Main replied

    Hello : )))))) Thank you so very much : ))))))))))))

  • colorblind

    colorblind

    never seen a spider like this one b4
    cool spider
    and pic
    it looks like its caring a mushroom on its back
    ....lovely

  • Marleia Main replied

    Oh Thank you .. I just love this girl!! I visit her often : )) She is beautiful and very shy : ))

  • colorblind

    colorblind

    visit
    where
    and yes beautiful

  • Marleia Main replied

    I found her at a local food market on a Milk Weed Plant That was in the path of people so I took here to a wild life reserve down the road from where I live and put her on a new Milk Weed by a small pound near other Orb Weavers (Black and Yellows). Black and Yellow Garden Spiders Live right in the middle of their web but my girl spins silk around a leaf and makes a funnel and lives inside of it. She goes to her web only to collect food. I will attach a picture to this one of her in her leaf .. She is adorable!!

  • colorblind

    colorblind

    seems like you go to the wild life reserve alot
    so i’m guessing the rest of the pics you have are of your other little friends
    is the reserve only for insects or other species as well

  • Marleia Main

    Marleia Main

    Anything can live there .. It is land behind some small offices … No traffic .. Ponds, a marsh, streams and a very large swamp. It is gorgeous!! I go all over but this is a favorite spot to go and be alone with nature. I do mean alone .. No one goes there!! It is perfect : ))

  • Nature's Realm

    Nature's Realm

    You have a great eye for details….very similar to myself in that regard. -Dennis

  • Marleia Main replied

    hello Dennis .. Thank you, Thank you!! I really appreciate your comment!!

  • Glenda  Remaklus

    Glenda Remaklus

    INCREDIBLE…............!

  • Marleia Main replied

    Thank you so much Glanda .. She was gorgeous!! I visited her all summer : ))

  • jwinman

    jwinman

    beautiful!

  • Marleia Main replied

    She is gorgeous huh?? She is my favorite orb weaver of all time!! I visited her often through out the summer!! Thank you :))

  • Anthony Young

    Anthony Young

    gives me the shivers! can i poke it?

  • Marleia Main replied

    lol No poking mister!! She is a sweet girl :)))

  • Tom Newman

    Tom Newman

    A truly beautiful sharp photo, the best I have seen of an Orb Spider , brilliant Marleia :-)

  • Marleia Main replied

    Hi Tom :))) I love this girl!! She was sweet and shy. I used to visit her and feed her once in a while. I will be looking for her babies soon ;)

  • CarolM

    CarolM

    This little guy, reminds me of a pot bellied snowman. LOL. Amazing work. Love the fabulous detail and the shadow. Excellent work!

  • Marleia Main replied

    Thank you so very much Carol :)))

  • PaulAlbert

    PaulAlbert

    Excellant Works, Beautiful capture, Enjoyed !

  • Marleia Main replied

    Hi Paul :)) Thank you very much!!

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Tags:

macro, main, orb, spider and weaver