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Web Building Spiders
This page contains pictures and information about Web Building Spiders that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia. For Spiders that do not build web, please visit this Hunting Spiders web site.
Spider once spelt 'spinder' which simply means 'spinner'. All spiders has their silk glands at their bottom of their abdomen, the back side of their body. Some spiders build webs and some do not. But all spiders make silk egg sac to protect their young.
See more about spider in general in Spider Scientific Facts page.
Orb Web Building Spiders
Two orb-weaving families, Araneidae and Tetragnathidae, were previously included in one family Araneidae, or in the older literature called Argiopidae. This two families included all orb web building spiders.
The two families was separated due to certain morphological differences and the way in which they capture and consume their prey. Araneidae build orb webs with dense center while Tetragnathidae build orb webs with open centre.
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Family: Araneidae, Orb web spiders
- The family name Araneidae is now preferred, in the older literature they are called Argiopidae, which included all orb web building spiders, which are now separated into other families. This is a large family. The spiders in this family range from small to large in side. All species in this family, if they make webs, make vertical or horizontal orb webs.
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Family: Tetragnathidae, Stretch spiders,
Long-jawed Orbweavers
- This family is newly separated from the family Araneidae. They also build orb webs, but a little different from Araneidae. They build orb webs with open centre while members in family Araneidae build orb webs with dense center.
Tangle Wed Building Spiders
Family:
Desidae, House spider
Spiders in this family are small to medium size spiders, with round or oval
abdomen dark or brown in colour. Their eight eyes are in two rows of four. They
build tangled web with a tubular retreat, so they are also called 'cobweb'
spiders. The egg sac is made in the funnel and the male often stays with the
female.
Family: Pholcidae, Daddy long-leg spiders
- They are small spiders with very long, thin legs. Eight pearly eyes in three groups, three eyes group in each side and two in the middle.. The abdomen is long and cylindrical. The female warps the eggs with a few stand of silk and hold in her chelicerae.
Family:
Theridiidae, Comb-Footed Spiders
- They are commonly called Comb-Footed Spiders. The famous Red Back Spider is in this family. Usually they build tangled webs under stones, against fences or walls. The distinguishing feature of this family is the row of spines on the tip of the fourth legs, which are used to comb out wide swathes of silk to entangle their prey. Their eyes are in two rows of four.
Web Casters
Family:
Deinopidae, Net-casting spiders
- Species in this family are large and slow moving spiders. They have long body and stick like legs. Their bodies are light brown or grey in colour. They do not build permanent web, instead, they hold their net and throw it towards their prey. Net-casting spiders are active at night. They hide in the middle of the plants over leave or ground waiting for prey passing by.
- Species in this family are large and slow moving spiders. They have long body and stick like legs. Their bodies are light brown or grey in colour. They do not build permanent web, instead, they hold their net and throw it towards their prey. Net-casting spiders are active at night. They hide in the middle of the plants over leave or ground waiting for prey passing by.
- For Spiders that do not build web, please visit this Hunting Spiders web site.
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