ORB WEAVERS
A. Orb weavers that remain on the web during the day
Christmas Spiders Austracantha minax webs are commonly seen between trees in summer in Foxes Lair in December/January. Active during the day, often in groups. Eyes on two equal rows. Four located centrally with other 4 wide laterally.
More information: Christmas Spider |
Golden Orb Weaver Nephila edulis occasionally builds a large gold-tinted day-active web between trees in summer in Foxes Lair but is common around homes further west. Eyes on two equal rows. Four located centrally with other 4 wide laterally. Check out tiny males and tiny silver kleptoparasitic Dewdrop Spiders in the webs.
More information: Foxypress blog Arachne website |
Garbage Line Spider Cyclosa trilobata is a day-active spider in an orb web with radial lines of thickened silk (stabilimenta) that contains the remains of their prey with the spider hidden in the line in the centre of the web. The elongated abdomen has two distinctive humps. Eyes on two equal rows.
More information: Foxypress blog
More information: Foxypress blog
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Argiope protensa Teardrop Spider
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Leaf Curling Spider Phonognatha graeffei has an orb web that is often partial or damaged, with a curled eucalypt leaf in the centre. It is very common in Foxes Lair shrubby woodland in summer. The spider is rarely seen outside the curled leaf. More information: Foxypress blog Leaf Curling Spider |
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B. Orb weavers that build a new web each night
At dawn these spiders eat their web and hide during the day
At dawn these spiders eat their web and hide during the day
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B1 Wrap around spider Dolophenes sp.
Tiny spiders that hide by wrapping around cylindrical plant parts (eg small sticks stems) during the day |
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Araneus eburnieventris
B2 Garden and Desert orb weavers have very spiny legs and hide in foliage during the day. Eyes are on two equal rows: Four located centrally on small stalks with the other four wide laterally.
Garden Orb Weavers Eriophila, Araneus sp. are common in gardens and bush.
Desert Orb Weavers Backobourkia sp. are mainly seen in the bush; they have a white triangular mark at the front of the abdomen and relatively strong spines on the back.
More information Myrmician spiders of WA Eriophila
Garden Orb Weavers Eriophila, Araneus sp. are common in gardens and bush.
Desert Orb Weavers Backobourkia sp. are mainly seen in the bush; they have a white triangular mark at the front of the abdomen and relatively strong spines on the back.
More information Myrmician spiders of WA Eriophila
Backobourkia heroine
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Backobourkia sp?
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Eriophera sp?
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Eriophera sp?
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Typical hiding position
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B3 Stick spiders Poltys species sit immobile during the day on twigs or stems with legs folded high above their carapace to resemble a dry broken twig or nut and weave an orb web at night.
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