INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
The Araneus spider is a member of the garden spiders. The scientific name for this spider is Araneus Transmarinus. There are many kinds of Araneus in Australia. The size of this spider can be 4mm to 26mm in length. This spider usually has a round, plump body with two rounded points on the shoulders. They also have a small head-thorax and eyes. Sometimes the Araneus spider has reddish coloured legs. Females have larger bodies and shorter legs than the males. Most are grey or brown in colour. Some have a lighter or darker pattern on their back but some have a different colour on their back. Orange and cream, green and cream are the other common colours besides grey or brown. Some have been known to change colour to match the flowers in its surroundings. |
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HABITATThe Araneus spider are found all over Australia and in most countries around the wold. This spider makes its web in trees and bushes besides creeks and in gardens. Araneus spiders makes orb webs. They can make these webs up to 70 mm across and a meter or two above the ground. The web is left up most of the time but some take it down of a morning and make a fresh one every night. It can take an hour for a web to be spun. The spider rests under a leaf or flower during the day. If you walk through a web it will stick to you. Most make vertical webs but a few make horizontal webs. Dry silk extends from the webs center like spokes of a wheel. Sticky silk joins the spokes and becomes an insect trap. |