Net-casting spider

Fact Box Species: Deinopis subrufa (JS, QM) Previous species name: Dinopis bicornis Family: Deinopidae formerly Dinopidae Body length: female: 25 mm male: 22 mm Habitat: Both sexes of this species tend to be found in association with a few strands of web in green shrubbery or on flat vertical surfaces, including exterior walls and doors of houses; during the daylight hours it tends to remain inactive but at dawn or dusk it may be found with a rectangular net on Legs I and II ready to envelop any nearby insect Toxicity: Unknown; this species is not aggressive towards humans and its venom is not considered to be significantly hazardous to larger animals

Female, side view Male, side veiw Under young male egg sac Spiderlings Discarded net

The presence of one pair of very large eyes facing forwards and the long, slender legs that at rest are aligned in pairs to form an X are features of this species. It is not too difficult to find a specimen with the characteristic net attached to its legs. Alternatively, abandoned nets are sometimes found where deinopids are common.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Deinopis ravida.