The Australian garden orb weaver spider (Eriophora transmarina) is a very common species of spider with many variants in size, shape and colour within Australia. They are often brightly coloured and have very large abdomens.
They are notable for the large and intricate webs which they weave at night. They are nocturnal feeders, resting head down in their webs to catch flying insects. They make their sticky rounded webs near lights and in between trees where insects are likely to fly. During the day the spider rests somewhere nearby the web, but not actually on it. To humans the bite gives mild, local pain for 30 minutes, strong for three to four hours.
The female can be distinguished by a needle-like epigynum protruding in the direction of the spinnerets.
Read more about Australian Garden Orb Weaver Spider: Gallery
Famous quotes containing the words australian, garden, orb, weaver and/or spider:
“The Australian mind, I can state with authority, is easily boggled.”
—Charles Osborne (b. 1927)
“Cultivate poverty like a garden herb, like sage.”
—Henry David Thoreau (18171862)
“Thus the orb he roamed
With narrow search, and with inspection deep
Considered every creature, which of all
Most opportune might serve his wiles, and found
The serpent subtlest beast of all the field.”
—John Milton (16081674)
“Machinery is aggressive. The weaver becomes a web, the machinist a machine. If you do not use the tools, they use you. All tools are in one sense edge-tools, and dangerous.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (18031882)
“Will you walk into my parlor? said the spider to the fly;
Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you did spy.
The way into my parlor is up a winding stair,
And I have many pretty things to show when you are there.”
—Mary Howitt (17991888)