mephila clavipes

1 definition found

mephila clavipes - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  orb weaver \orb" weav`er\, orb-weaver \orb"-weav`er\, 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]