Appearance

• A stocky triangular body that’s grey or reddish-brown in colour. There’s usually a leaf pattern on the back. Sometimes they have a white dorsal stripe.
• Body length is 1.5 – 3cm. Females are slightly larger than males.

Life Cycle

• The impregnated female constructs a cocoon (to hold the eggs) on a tree leaf, and then departs the scene. When the spiderlings hatch, they disperse via silk “ropes” onto other trees and shrubs.
• Garden orb-weaving spiders only have a lifespan of 12 months.

Habits

• Webs are usually constructed in the evening, and taken down at dawn.
• Garden orb-weaving spiders construct a sticky, wheel-shaped web between trees and shrubs to catch prey (bugs, beetles and flies). The spider perches itself in the middle of the web.
• During the day, they usually hide on foliage.
• Not considered a threat to humans.