by High Park Nature
Spiders are a fascinating and critical part of all terrestrial ecosystems. They are voracious predators of insects and pests, such as mosquito larvae and aphids.
Spiders build a variety of webs, depending on the type of spider. These include the familiar orbwebs, plus meshwebs, cobwebs, sheetwebs and funnelwebs. Fishing spiders and crab spiders do not build a web; instead they are ambush predators.
Hacklemesh weaver, Callobius bennetti. Photo: Karen Yukich
Orbweb. Photo: Karen Yukich
Spider web. Photo: Karen Yukich
Yellow Garden Spider, Argiope aurantia. Photo: Karen Yukich
Red Velvet Mite. Photo: Karen Yukich
Goldenrod Crab Spider, Misumena vatia. Photo: Karen Yukich
Cross Orbweaver, Araneus diadematus. Photo: Krista Adams
Dimorphic Jumping Spider, Maevia inclemens. Photo: Krista Adams
Long-jawed Orbweaver, Tetragnatha sp. Photo: Karen Yukich
Long-jawed Orbweaver, Tetragnatha sp. Photo: Karen Yukich
Orbweaver spiderlings. Photo: Karen Yukich
Sources
See also
- Spiders of Toronto, Toronto Biodiversity Booklet Series
