Celaenia calotoides

Fact Box Species: Celaenia calotoides (identified from W.J. Rainbow's original description of this species) Family: Araneidae formerly Argiopidae Body length: female: 6 mm male: 3 mm Habitat: On surfaces of shrubs but usually at the end of its string of egg sacs which may be suspended from garden latticework Toxicity: Unknown but unlikely to cause illness in humans; this spider shows no aggression towards humans

Another view At end of egg sacs

This spider has the general shape and resting posture of many common orb-weaving spiders, its legs being drawn up against its body to make it very difficult to distinguish from a piece of dead twig. It spins a thin irregular web, especially around its egg sacs. This distinguishes it from similar spiders such as Poltys species.

Its egg sacs are brown papery spheres about 5 mm in diameter, joined together like a string of beads. They have a very prickly surface.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Neoarchemorus species, Celaenia excavata, Poltys illepidus and Heurodes turrita.