#orb-weaving spider

[lazer-t]

Butterfly Orbweaver for a $15 Ko-fi supporter

The Butterfly Orbweaver (Araneus pegnia) is a species of Orb-Weaving Spider (family Araneidae) found in North and Central America. Its common name comes from the butterfly-like pattern on its abdomen, which varies significantly in shape and colour between individuals. Like with many other spider species, female Butterfly Orbweavers are on average larger than males. (x, x)

[sitting-on-me-bum]

A male firefly is caught in the web of an orb-weaving spider, Araneus ventricosus. Researchers believe that these spiders may manipulate the bioluminescent signals that fireflies use to find mates.

Photograph by Xinhua Fu

[crypitd]

Condensed Inktober Illustration. First Friday.

[Golden • Spiders • Map • Path • Dodge • Dream]

The sketches, scrapped ideas, etc. are all shown on my Patreon.

»   Etsy  •  Various Links   «

© Harlen Chen

Explanation of each representation:

Golden + Spiders: Golden Silk Spiders

Map: The spider is it's own Pangaea

Path: The dodge truck entering a path to the dream

Dodge: Dodge Ram truck shown in the bottom right, and a closer look of it at the top right

Dream: The two smaller globes represent both the dream bubble and one of them is the spider egg sac open.

[drhoz]

#2575 - Leucauge dromedaria - Silver Orb Spider 

AKA the humped silver orb spider, originally described as Meta granulata  by Swedish arachnologist Tamerlan Thorell in 1842.

A medium to large sized Longjawed Orbweaver, with a body length up to 15 mm long in he females, and the males usually under 6 mm. Found in Australia, some south Pacific Islands and New Zealand. 

Pancake Rocks, Aotearoa New Zealand

[mindblowingscience]

As the insect sentinels of summer, fireflies use their glowing bellies to communicate to other fireflies. Males from the species Abscondita terminalis use multi-pulse flashes with both of their lanterns to attract females. The females use single-pulse flashes with their one lantern. However, a new study found that some spiders may have decoded this signal and are using it to its advantage. This mimicry is detailed in a study published August 19 in the journal Current Biology. When orb-weaving spiders (Araneus ventricosus) trap male fireflies in their webs, they manipulate the flashing signals to mimic the typical flashes made by female fireflies. These feigned flashes then lure other males into the web where they become the spider’s next meal. However, we still don’t know if the spider’s venom or a bite itself is manipulating the firefly’s signal. 

Continue Reading.

[prettyboykatsuki-moved]

there are several 2d men i want to list

[somestarstuff]

diversity win the spider that just bit you is named after a gay alien

[borealopelta]

now why did i make a heavily spider inspired oc when i'm terrified of spiders. why did i think that would be nice. exposure therapy isn't real no clue what the end goal was with this

[writhyv]

⋆｡°✩ the eyes, they never lie

he was only supposed to be gathering ashwinder eggs with you, but why does he keep catching feelings for you instead?

𓏲 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖✦⋆˚ pairing — sim jaeyun x reader

𓏲 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖✦⋆˚ tags — fluff, hogwarts legacy au, any hogwarts house reader, jake x reader, jake has been developing this silent crush with you for a long while now since you've been in school, sorta loser!jake

𓏲 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖✦⋆˚ warning + notes — anybody deathly afraid of spiders dni! not too much but it does say acromantulas so be warned asfjhfja, also if this goes well, should i start a series? def game for hogwarts enha typa beat

𓏲 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖✦⋆˚ word count — 1.8k

𓏲 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖✦⋆˚ looking for my main masterlist? — here's the legacy one!

GET THOSE ASHWINDER EGGS BEFORE SHARP FINDS OUT!!

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The fire in the Gryffindor common room crackled with a warm tune to your ears as Jake flopped onto the sofa beside you, his parchment unfurling with a dramatic fwip. His notes were less understandable handwriting and more chaotic hieroglyphics.

A quote underlined three times, accompanied by a doodle of a serpent breathing fire onto what might’ve been Professor Sharp’s face.

You smirked. “You know, if Sharp sees that, he’ll assign you to scrub the entire owlery. With a toothbrush.”

Jake groaned, flopping his head and relaxing his back onto your side. “He’ll kill me if I don’t fix this potion. You saw the Draught of Living Death. It tried to strangle Garreth!”

“It was just being affectionate,” you said, plucking a Chocolate Frog from the table. “Like a ... say a very aggressive kneazle.”

He snorted, but his grin faded as he stared at the map of the Forbidden Forest. “I've changed my mind! I can just … I dunno, transfigure a chicken egg and hope Sharp doesn’t notice.”

You raised an eyebrow. “I thought you aced all Magical Studies? Drenching an egg in orange paint isn't such a smart idea.”

“But ... Acromantulas!”

“Ah, so that’s why you invited me,” you said, tossing the Frog wrapper into the air and igniting it into oblivion in a whip of your wand. “Bait.”

Jake’s head snapped up, eyes wide. “No! I just—you’re good at… y’know. The thinking part. And the not-dying part.”

“Flatterer.”

He nudged your knee with his, his smile returning. “C’mon. It’ll be like that time we stole the pumpkin pastries from the kitchens. Except with more… legs.”

You sighed, but the warmth in your chest betrayed you. Jake had always been like this—reckless, bright, and so alive it hurt to look at him sometimes.

The forest was a cathedral of shadows, its canopy blotting out the stars. Jake’s Lumos charm trembled in his hand, casting shaky light over the gnarled roots and moss-stained stones. You walked shoulder-to-shoulder, close enough to feel the heat of his arm through his robes.

“Damp spots, right?” you muttered, stepping over a creek swollen with rainwater. “Ashwinders nest near—”

A twig snapped.

Both of you froze. Jake’s wand jerked toward the sound, his breath shallow. “P-probably just a bowtruckle,” he whispered.

“Bowtruckles don’t weigh 200 pounds,” you said, slowly reaching for your wand.

The clicking started first—a wet, rhythmic sound that made your skin crawl. Then the eyes appeared: eight glowing orbs in the dark, followed by the hulking silhouette of an Acromantula.

“W-what do we do?” Jake huffed, looking at you as if waiting for your cue.

You could see the flicker of fear in his eyes, a vulnerability that Jake rarely showed. He often tried to act tough and casual, but in moments like this, it was clear how much he relied on your presence. And you were determined to protect him, no matter what.

The spiders herded you into a clearing, their legs weaving through the underbrush with predatory precision. The largest one lunged first, fangs glistening with dangerous venom.

“We’ll face them together,” you assured him, trying to instill some confidence.

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In a whim, Jake reacted on instinct.

“Incendio!”

The fireball hit its face, and the creature recoiled with a shriek. With a bit of your help, you shouted a Stunning Spell, but the spider dodged, its leg slicing the air where his head had been.

“Jake, duck!”

He dropped. With a quick flick, you casted a Cutting Curse that severed the spider’s leg, black blood splattering the area. The Acromantula collapsed, thrashing, but two more surged forward.

“Circle!” you barked, grabbing Jake’s arm and pulling him back-to-back with you.

“W-what?”

“They’re ambush predators—they’ll come at us from all sides. Watch the flanks!”

Jake nodded, his jaw set. You felt him tremble, but his voice steadied. “Stupefy!”

The spell hit a spider mid-leap, knocking it into a tree. Another skittered toward you, mandibles snapping. You pivoted, slashing your wand. “Diffindo!”

The spider’s leg flew off, but a third slammed into you from behind. Your wand skidded into the shadows.

“No—!”

“Hey!” Jake roared, hurling a rock at the Acromantula. “Argghhh ... Eat this, you big ugly balls of lint!!!”

The spider hissed, charging him. Jake scrambled backward, tripping over a stumped root.

You dove for your wand, taking charge with a quick aim. “Arresto Momentum!”

The freezing charm hit the Acromantula mid-pounce. It hung in the air, frozen, venom dripping from its fangs.

“Depulso!”

The Banishing Charm sent it crashing into its kin. You hauled Jake to his feet, his hand clammy in yours.

“You okay?”

He nodded, breathless. “Y-you just… you’re insane.”

“You striked first, dummy.” You said, grinning. "I had to cover your ass."

"Touche.." He said, panting heavily as his tongue slipped out from his mouth.

Suddenly, spider silk was whipping past your ears. The ground sloped sharply, and your leather shoe caught on a rock. As he saw you, Jake lent you his strong arm, but the unstoppable momentum dragged you both down the embankment.

With a cushioned thump, you landed hard. On top of him.

His breath hitched. Your knee was wedged between his thighs, your hands braced on either side of his head. His face was inches from yours, flushed pink and speckled with dirt. For a heartbeat, the world narrowed to the hitch in his breath, the way his eyes flicked to your lips.

“I uhh… I-... Uh…” he stammered. He fucking did. Of course he did. Jake sighed in his own head.

You quickly rolled off him, ignoring the racing warmth that pooled in your chest. “They’re still coming. We need to—”

In a flash, a shining hue of blue cut through the gloom. Butterflies—dozens of them—danced in the air, their wings shimmering like fractured stained glass.

"Look!" You smiled, reaching candidly as you saw more of the flying critters. "Butterflies!"

Jake stared. “Are they safe?”

“Safer than the eight-legged dinner party behind us.”

Propping up gently from the ground, you stuck out your hand to help Jake. With your touch brushing upon his otherwise dirty palm, Jake's cheek glowed with a warm flush.

“Thanks.” he acknowledged you softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

As you followed the butterflies, a comfortable silence settled between you. The darkness of the forest faded, and the gentle glow of the butterflies illuminated your path. You felt a sense of calm as you walked side by side, the tension from the encounter with the Acromantulas slowly dissipating.

“You know,” Jake said, breaking the silence, “I’ve always thought the forest was kind of magical, even with all the creepy crawlies.”

You chuckled softly. “Well, it has its charm—especially when you’re not being chased by giant spiders.”

Jake’s expression shifted, and he looked at you with a hint of seriousness. “I mean it, though. I don’t think I’d want to be here with anyone else. You always know what to do. It’s like… you've always got everything under control.”

“Keeping you alive is my life motto.” you replied, a teasing smile on your lips. But deep down, his words warmed your heart. You appreciated the way he recognized your strengths, and it made you wonder if he saw you in a different light than just a friend.

The butterflies led you uphill, away from the clicking horde and the gloomy forest that had kept you entertained.

And for sure, he did. He really did. Awkwardly so but he does.

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When you finally stumbled into open air, the view stole your breath.

Hogwarts Castle rose in the distance, its windows glittering like scattered stars. The Black Lake mirrored the sky, smooth and endless, and the valley below bloomed with wildflowers even in the dark. It was like standing inside a painting.

“It's already nighttime...” You stretched your limbs as you stood up, watching over all the marvels you could find with your naked eye. “The stars are really out tonight.”

Jake slumped against a boulder, clutching his side. “Merlin’s pants… I think I swallowed a spider.”

“Only one?” You sat beside him, close enough that your shoulders grazed at that moment.

He laughed weakly. The sound faded as he turned to you, his gaze lingering.

When was it that he was truly enamored by the sight of you? When you entered Hogwarts so late in your years that you had caught almost everyone's attention? When you won the Quidditch match and had him cheering for you no matter what? Or when you successfully defended the castle from the invasion of Goblins not long ago?

When was it that he started looking fondly at you, dreaming of seeing your face without ever feeling weird about it?

Seeing your lashes and how they flowed and complimented the shape of your eyes, Jake could never get used to how ethereal you looked when he saw you first thing in the morning.

The bridge and tip of your nose, inches finer and sharper every time he took an almost sinful gaze upon your natural beauty. It was always breathtaking, as you could imagine.

And even glancing down at your lips, and how red they were, Jake could never refuse to imagine his own lips caressing yours in an intimate way. It was just as if he wanted to melt on top of you right then and there.

He wanted to feel your warmth so badly, but who was he for you, for him to have the luxury of having those thoughts of you?

And who's to say you didn't notice it too? He surely wasn't slick with it, as much as he wanted to be.

You’d caught him staring before—in the library, during Quidditch matches, that time you’d rolled up your sleeves in Potions, and even how he stopped breathing at the sight of you being so close to him earlier in the Forbidden Forest—but never like this. Never so quiet.

The silence stretched. Jake’s eyes never really strayed away from your lips.

“What?” you said.

He jerked back. “Nothing! I—I wasn’t—I mean, your face is just… really…” He flailed, gesturing vaguely. “Symmetrical?”

You raised an eyebrow, looking straight into his eyes. Jake could feel your judgment, but also your inquisitiveness.

Sometimes, you were just too good at guessing what he thought. It was as if his body was made of glass, see-through and transparent in front of you.

“Shut up,” he mumbled, covering his face. “I’m… concussed.”

“You’re not concussed, Jake."

“I could be.”

You smirked, leaning back on your hands.

As you grew quiet, you continued to admire the place that surrounded you. The valley sprawled beneath you, beautiful and strange. Hogwarts felt like a dream you couldn't ever imagine living in.

Jake’s voice softened. “Thanks. For saving my arse back there.”

“Anytime.”

“Even if I’m… y’know.” He gestured to himself. “A mess.”

You glanced at him. His hair was full of leaves, his robes torn, but his smile—small and hopeful—made your chest tighten.

With the smallest step between you and Jake, you took care of the leaves stuck on his hair and ruffled it then. With yet more warmth than ever, Jake felt a rush of dopamine crawling up his spine.

“Especially then,” you said with a simple smile.

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When you finally crept back into the castle, Filch’s shouts echoing somewhere distant, Jake nudged you with his elbow.

“Same time next week?”

“Only if you bring better snacks.”

He grinned, bright as the sunrise. “Deal.”

A smile crept across your face as you thought of going out again.

Maybe, you'll let this play a bit longer. After all, it is pure fun to see Jake unravel minute by minute.

EN—D

𓏲 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖✦⋆˚ kai's notes — aahhhh!! i really wanted to write enha in hogwarts for so long and now iget to actually write them! hopefully yall like ittttt~

my masterlist! | made by writhyv 💘

[scribblestatic]

Hello! I’ve really been enjoying your Spider Shen Yuan posts and I felt compelled to attempt to draw him. You said he was an Orb Weaver in the first post, and though I think it’s native to the America’s, a Golden Silk Orb Weaver not only sounds like a PIDW creature, a spider that weaves with golden silk sounds badass and something to covet. I added the little Pom-Pom pedipalps and silk shawl, and extra sharp bits on the legs based on Monster Hunter spider‘s like Lala Barina and Rakna-Kadaki.

Ayo, buddy?

Pal?

This looks fuckin SICK!!

Hot DAMN this here is a creature!!

Thank you so much, omg ❤️❤️❤️

[sitting-on-me-bum]

Male orb-weaving spiders fight less with each other when there are more female spiders in the colony than males, research has found. Females also spar less in female-dominated colonies than in male-dominated ones.

Most spiders lead solitary lives.

Mrs.Rungnapa Chantaweesomboon / EyeEm / Getty Images

[mutant-distraction]

Triangular Spider

This Poecilopachys australasia, also known as the Triangular Spider, has an eye-catching appearance with bold red, yellow, and white markings! Its spiky carapace helps deter predators while making it one of the most unique orb-weaving spiders.

✨ Fun Fact: These spiders build their webs at night and dismantle them by morning, hiding during the day to avoid detection!

📸: Jamie Hall

[kirain]

Please don't get me wrong, I like gale well enough, but he turns me off because I get the impression that he wouldn't care much about what I have to say. He's so intelligent and wise and he clearly has years and years of education and study under his belt. So what on earth could I even talk to him about without boring him to death? Because honestly, I like to talk, like, a lot. I'm just as passionate about stuff but not nearly as knowledgeable and I fucking hate that look on people's face when they're blithely listening to stuff that bored them? Im not knowledgeable enough to have anything to offer him

This is ironically how Gale feels about himself. He feels like he has absolutely nothing to offer anyone, which is why he went after the orb in the first place. He felt inadequate for a goddess, and he feels inadequate for Tav. The idea that Tav is attracted to him genuinely shocks him, too, because from his standpoint ... who could possibly love him? He's just a guy who screws everything up. That's why he's so elated when Tav shares their feelings with him.

He knows magic, but he doesn't know the world. He's clueless in certain areas. Despite being so knowledgeable and passionate about magic, he wants to know Tav. He doesn't care how intelligent or unintelligent you are, he only cares that you're a good person. I haven't finished his romance yet, but I've made some pretty silly decisions (like licking a dead spider) and he's still sticking by me. His desire for Tav isn't transactional at all. In fact, he'd probably find your question "what on earth could I even talk to him about without boring him to death" perplexing. The answer is anything! Gale's passion is learning and sharing knowledge, and if you talk to him about a subject he's already well versed in, he won't shut you down, he'll just match your enthusiasm. I'm playing as a wizard, and every time I've spoken to him about the Weave or books or anything my character knows as a result of her background, he gets excited, not bored.

Moreover, Gale's hobbies mainly consist of reading. That's it. He likes to sit on his balcony and read. I'm sure many people would consider that boring, and he knows it. That's why he gets agitated when you first meet him. He blatantly tells you his hobbies and everything he loves; reading, writing poetry, his cat, so when you ask him to elaborate or say "tell me the real you" he gets a bit defensive. He dodges the question about his past and anything regarding the orb, but he was also being 100% honest about who he is. He does love reading, he does write poetry, he does worship his cat, but that's all he really has going for him and he knows it's not substantial. At least not from his perspective. He's insecure.

Mystra was his entire life. He was secluded from childhood by a groomer and only had Tara and tutors on the side. Then he lived alone in his tower for over a year, fearing death, regretting his mistakes, and reevaluating his life. Companionship is literally the best thing you can offer Gale, because it's the only thing he truly wants. Even just a simple friendship means the world to him. Anything else you bring to the table is an absolute bonus. Don't forget, when you reach his maximum affinity he responds to your queries with, "Always a delight to speak with you."

[themeltingmoons]

🫧Dewdrops of the Widow 🫧

This is my latest piece, one I really poured my heart into. I wanted to focus on creating an intricate and atmospheric design, playing with textures, lighting, and the delicate details in her web. I find myself fascinated with spiders, was inspired by the spotted orb weaver.

Did you know that only female orb weavers create those classic webs? Once males mature, they stop weaving altogether. Instead, they dedicate their energy to finding a mate, often wandering far and wide in search of a partner.

What do you feel when you look at this piece?

[inkabelledesigns]

Spinstra, the Weaver Witch

So you've met Bobbin before, time to meet her mom! This is Spinstra, a weaver witch and resident healer in Patchland. In need of some help with rips, frays, burns, or cuts? Spinstra patches it all! While she may seem quiet and cold at first, Spinstra's got a very warm heart and a soft spot for children. While her large, spidery appearance may seem a touch frightening, know that she is incredibly docile and means no harm.

I was inspired by both the long horned orb weaver and the peacock spider with her design. The long prongs on the back of her body have been fashioned into a loom that she can rotate her front have to weave on. She makes all sorts of things, from rugs to blankets to tapestries. Bobbin can occasionally be found napping back here on particularly rough nights. That said, this function of her design once served a very different purpose, one Spinstra isn't a fan of.

[honeycomb-butch]

“In late October, 2009, the managers of the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant in Baltimore, MD sought assistance in mitigating what they described as an “extreme spider situation” in their sand filtration facility.

[…] we were unprepared for the sheer scale of the spider population and the extraordinary masses of both three-dimensional and sheet-like webbing that blanketed much of the facility’s cavernous interior. Far greater in magnitude than any previously recorded aggregation of orb-weavers, the visual impact of the spectacle was nothing less than astonishing.”

from “An Immense Concentration of Orb-Weaving Spiders With Communal Webbing in a Man-Made Structural Habitat (Arachnida: Araneae: Tetragnathidae, Araneidae)” by Albert Greene et al (link)