n. Any spider of the family Araneidae (called also Argiopidae) that spins a web with a pattern of lines spiraling outward from the center. They have eight similar eyes. The golden orb weaver, Mephila clavipes, is known for the remarkable dragline silk it produces for use as a frame for its web and as a line on which it can plummet down and nab prey. This silk has a high tensile strength and is stronger than the toughest current synthetic polymer (Kevlar). [ PJC ]
[じょろうぐも;ジョロウグモ, jorougumo ; jorougumo] (n) (1) (uk) Nephila clavata (an Oriental species of golden orb-weaving spider); (2) (often mistakenly called ジョロウグモ) (See 黄金蜘蛛) Argiope amoena (an Oriental species of orb-weaving spider); (3) (often mistakenly called ジョロウグモ) (See 長黄金蜘蛛) wasp spider (Argiope bruennichi)