Northern (giant) golden orb weaver

Fact Box Species: Nephila pilipes (QM) formerly Nephila maculata Family: Araneidae formerly Nephilidae Body length: female: about 40 mm male: 5-6 mm Habitat: In the centre of a large orb web in green shrubs; the smaller male is often seen on the edge of the web Toxicity: Unknown; not aggressive and probably harmless to humans but handle with caution

The same species? The male? Underneath male Front view

This is perhaps the most colourful of the three Nephila species found in Queensland. Its legs are relatively longer and more slender than for the other two species. Other distinguishing features are the discrete patches of bright yellow on the undersides of many leg joints and the red colour of the palps.

As is probably true for all Nephila species, the male is much smaller than the female and does not look much like it. Its plain brown colouring and erect leg spines are not characteristics of the female. There is a slightly twisted needle-like appendage projecting back from the bulb at the end of the male palp and this is another diagnostic feature of Nephila males.

Unlike the other common Australian Nephila species Nephila pilipes is claimed to lay its eggs on the ground in leaf litter rather than binding the fluffy egg mass onto a dry twig well above ground level.

Nephila pilipes is primarily a tropical spider but is occasionally found in rainforest areas of southern Queensland.

Known Range: This species is known as the Northern golden orb weaver because it is most common in coastal parts of Northern Asutralia but its range nwo seems to extend down into NSW and there is even an alleged pocket of it in the vicinity of Perth, WA.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Trichonephila plumipes and Trichonephila edulis.