Australian Spiders -- Orb Weaving Spiders

This page contains details and photos of Orb Weaving spiders seen in my backyard.

Click on thumbnail image to see a larger, higher resolution photo.

Photo 1

Most of the Orb Weaving spiders in our backyard are grey or brown.

This grey female lives under the garage roof overhang during the day. She comes out just after sunset to build a new web or repair the old one.

Photo 3

This shot shows a close-up of the top side of the spider and how it has its front legs folded while waiting for something to get caught in the web. Orb Weaving spiders also take up this position while hiding under cover during the day.

Photo 5

Side view of a red Orb Weaving spider called Eriophora heroine . This variety has a wide abdomen with a small horn at the top on each side.

This spider lives in a small shrub beside the house through the day; you can see the metal side fence in the background.

Photo 7

Front view of the striped orb weaving spider.

This photo shows the foward looking eyes that are much smaller than those on hunting spiders.

Photo 9

I found this spider the morning after it caught a cicada.

Orb weavers usually run away and hide if disturbed during the day, but this one wouldn't leave its meal.

Photo 2

This is a brown variety, a common colour in Garden Orb Weaving spiders.

This shot shows the intricate pattern on the spider's abdomen and clearer details of the almost one metre diameter web.

Photo 4

This shot shows a close-up of the under-side of a male spider while it waits with front legs folded.

The spider's sex can be determined by the size of the phalps.

Photo 6

This photo shows the striped back variety. The light brown spider has a white stripe along the full length of its abdomen.

The spider was repairing its web in broad daylight. A risky job to be doing when there are kookaburras around in nearby trees.

Photo 8

Overhead view of the striped orb weaving spider.

This photo shows all eight eyes including the two in the back of its head.

Photo 10

One of the largest orb weaving spider webs I've seen.

To give an idea of its size, the metal fence in the background is 1.5m high.