AUSTRALIANS COMMON SPIDERS Contents St Andrew's Cross Spider ........................................................................................................... 2 Garden Orb Weaver (Araneus Diadematus) .......................................................................... 4 Araneus Orb Weaver ................................................................................................................... 6 Golden Orb Weaver (Araneidae, genus Nephila) ................................................................. 7 Brown House Spider .................................................................................................................... 9 Bird Dropping Spider ............................................................................................................... 11 Daddy-long-leg .......................................................................................................................... 12 Jewel Spiders ............................................................................................................................. 14 Huntsman Spider ....................................................................................................................... 15 Flower Spider ............................................................................................................................. 17 Jumping Spider .......................................................................................................................... 19 Trapdoor spider ......................................................................................................................... 20 Eastern Mouse Spider .............................................................................................................. 22 Red Headed Mouse Spider ...................................................................................................... 23 Black House Spider (Badumna Longinquus) ....................................................................... 25 Wolf Spiders ............................................................................................................................... 27 Redback Spider .......................................................................................................................... 29 Brown Widow ............................................................................................................................. 31 Sydney Funnel-Web Spiders .................................................................................................. 32 White Tailed Spider .................................................................................................................. 34 References .................................................................................................................................. 36 St Andrew's Cross Spider Identification St Andrew's Cross Spiders are named as a result of their web decorations that are brilliant - zigzag threads of bluish-white silk that form a partial or complete cross through the center of the orb web. Cream and the brown colored males are smaller than females. As the 'doily' matures, it’s slowly transformed into a 'cross'. Habitat The St Andrew's Cross Spiders construct moderate-sized orb webs, inhabited day and night, on low shrubby plant life. The function -like web decoration has for ages been a puzzle. Initially idea to reinforce or 'stabilize' the net, it is associated with more recent thoughts with avoiding predators or catching preys. The ribbon-like silk reflects ultra-violet light firmly. Such light is appealing to flying insects, which use it to browse through openings in the plant life and to find food sources like blooms. If insects are attracted by the beautiful silk, the quarry of the net may raise capturing efficiency. The silk ornamentation could also make its owner and the web noticeable to day- active predators like wasps and birds. On the other hand, the silky web may prevent predators from trying their best to catch the spider. Eating and Diet The raven of the St Andrew's Cross Spiders feeds on bees, moths, butterflies, bugs, and flies. Silk wrap usually secures these into a neat package - although smaller quarry may be bitten. Other behaviors and adaptations When threatened, the St Andrew's Cross Spider reacts by shaking its web, and stabilimentum becomes blurry, confusing its attackers. These measures do not always work. Mating and Reproduction Mating occurs from summer to fall and can be dangerous for the male because of its little size, compared to the female. The male builds a mating thread within the web by vibrating the thread- an action that brings an open female. The female hangs its pear-shaped egg sac among leaves where it disguised. Regardless of this, parasites and flies still attack the eggs. Garden Orb Weaver (Araneus Diadematus) Number of Species 100 Identification The Garden Orb Weavers that are found are stout, reddish-brown or gray spiders with a leaf-shaped pattern on their abdomens that are fat, nearly triangular, which additionally have two noticeable humps towards the front. They occasionally have a dorsal stripe that neither looks black nor brown. Habitat Orb weaving spiders make tacky, sticky, wheel-shaped orb webs. Webs are spun into openings between shrubs and trees where insects will probably fly. The Garden Orb Weavers build big, powerful, perpendicular orb webs in the morning. And the spider takes it down again at daybreak. The spider rests head- down in the middle of the web waiting for its meal. Eating and Diet When an insect moves into the web, the spider rushes out of the web center, feels the shaking and quickly wraps the casualty in silk, rotating it with its short central legs. When the quarry is safe, the orb-weaver administers a sting and sits back to let the venom, that is lethal, do its job. After all the movement has ceased, the spider eats its meal comfortably or hangs it for later use. These spiders will release substantial prey instead of risk a fight which could damage their web when food is abundant. Butterflies and day-active moths are occasionally captured but are somewhat shielded from web entrapment by the existence of scales on their wings - this may enable the insects to fight free from the sticky web. Other Behaviors and Adaptation During the day, the spider rests with its legs pulled under the body on a nearby leaf. Lifecycle The lifespan of a female is about twelve months. The eggs are encased in a silken cocoon that is then attached to leaves. During fall, the spiderlings hatch and disperse by ballooning (floating on the wind using little silk fibrils as "balloons"), and construct their miniature orb webs among plants and wait out the winter. During springtime, the spiderlings begin to develop faster, and they grow more in summer. Adult females die off in fall - early winter. Females and men are similar in size. Predators Birds are the usual predators of this spider. Danger to Humans and First Aid Orb weavers are not eager to bite. And when they do, symptoms are usually moderate or minimal pain, swelling, and numbness. Sometimes dizziness and nausea can happen after the sting. If symptoms continue, seek medical attention Araneus Orb Weaver Habitat These spiders are found in Australia and North America, residing in lawns, gardens, farms, orchards, urban and suburban areas. It also frequents riparian corridors, woods borders, and old fields. Web Web may be attached to buildings in suburban and urban areas. The spider may either live in the getaway at the periphery of the web or inhabit the hub (center) of the web- hanging head down. The web is usually eaten by the spider every night, and the water and protein extracted is used them to reconstruct a new fresh net. Food Raven that is leaping or flying insects that can be intercepted by the perpendicular orb web. Lifecycle Male spiders reach maturity quicker than females and may match up with females that are immature, waiting for them to become mature. Females spin their eggs in sacs during fall or late summer. After laying her eggs, the female dies. Each egg sac can include anywhere from 100 to 800 eggs that are yellowish in color. Spiderlings stay clumped together for a day or two. Some spiderlings “balloon” to other places by following the air currents. Golden Orb Weaver (Araneidae, genus Nephila) Identification Golden Orb Weaving Spiders are big spiders with silvery-gray to brownish plum colored bodies. They have branded legs that are usually yellowish. The males are tiny and reddish-brown to brown in color. Distribution In Sydney, trees and the bushes of the Royal Botanic Gardens are a great spot to see them, as are the Homebush Bay region of the city and the mangrove forests of Bicentennial Park. Habitat All orb weaving spiders make hung, tacky, wheel-shaped orb webs. Webs are set in openings between shrubs and trees where insects will most likely fly. Eating and Diet Gold orb prey includes cicadas and flies, beetles, locusts, wood moths. Occasionally their robust webs manage to snare small birds or bats, and the spider will wrap and feed on them. Other behaviors and adaptations The Golden Orb Weaving Spiders construct big, semi-permanent orb webs. The solid silk has a gold sheen. These spiders stay within their webs night and day and get some protection from bird strike by the existence of an 'obstacle system' of threads on one or both sides of their web. Like the St Andrew's Cross Spider, their webs will vibrate to deflect potential