Garden spiders usually live in places like yards, fields, or gardens and use tall vegetation, branches, or sometimes buildings to attach their webs. The webs are generally constructed a few feet off the ground. The females spin large webs to ensnare prey, which includes various types of insects and some spiders, and the webs can reach as much as two feet in diameter.
Though it looks delicate, these orb-shaped webs are quite strong. They are made up of a spiral of silken threads, anchored by threads that radiate out to the sides. This is what people think of as a typical spider web. The spiderlings are also able to spin these elaborate webs.
Garden spiders create a unique zig-zag line through the web. This may be done to attract prey or perhaps deter larger predators, like birds, from disturbing the web.
The male garden spider will spin his own, smaller web, which is usually in or near the female's web. His purpose is mainly to seek mates, and he will perform a series of tapping movements to attract a female's attention and express his desire to mate.
When a garden spider senses the vibration of invading prey, it will attack the intruder by injecting venom as well as digestive enzymes to liquefy the pest for easier consumption. The spider will also wrap the predator with its silk.
Garden spiders are considered beneficial because they help control other pests.