Coastal golden orb-weaver

Fact Box Species: Nephila plumipes (QM) Previous species name: Nephila ornata Family: Nephilidae formerly Tetragnathidae Body length: female: 21 mm male: 5 mm Habitat: In a large web strung between dead tree branches Toxicity: Not very toxic but may cause necrotising arachnidism

With egg sacs Female in web The male Male and female

This species exhibits sexual dimorphism, the small male often waiting on the periphery of the web. An important characteristic of the female is the presence of yellow bands near the end of each leg segment. The web is remarkably strong and has a characteristic yellow colour as does the fluffy egg sac which tends to be left in the tree the spider was using for support.

In the Lockyer Valley this species is often found in very large numbers but it is less common on the Darling Downs, Nephila edulis being the main species present.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Nephila edulis and Nephila pilipes.