119, see text Micrathena, known as spiny orbweavers, is a genus of orb-weaver spiders first described by Carl Jakob Sundevall in 1833.

The name is derived from the Greek "micro", meaning "small", and the goddess Athena.

[7] Species with extremely long spines evolved at least eight times in the genus Micrathena and likely function as anti-predator defenses.

Unlike many other orb-weavers, members of Micrathena bite their prey before wrapping it.

[5] Only two species are recorded from Canada, being M. sagittata, found primarily in the Pinery Provincial Park, and M. gracilis, which is more widespread.