The Flickr Spidersofaustralia Image Generatr

NB: Not captive - image captured in situ, within foliage.

Here we have a male ogre spider, Asianopis subrufa, with his impressive and unique pedipalps on show. These structures in spiders serve various functions like food handling, sensation and in males, mating. Sperm is transferred from the pedipalps to the female seminal receptacles.

Also commonly known as net-casting spiders because they do not spin conventional webs, but hang out like this in the foliage with a tiny silken net strung between their front legs when hunting, ready to ensnare a passing meal.

I read that ogre spiders have been shown to have superior night vision equal to cats and owls. Their eyes are capable of focusing light more effectively via a large, light-receptive retinal membrane. This membrane is damaged by sunlight and deteriorates each morning and regenerates in the evening.

Amazing spiders.

20 mm body length.

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NB: Not captive. Seen within an external, disused metal pipe cover. It was quite difficult to get a good angle given how far up she was.

The prey here is, I believe, a skink. I learned that each egg sac can contain up to 250 eggs. Not all spiderlings survive as they are cannibalistic, eating other spiderlings and unhatched eggs.

I often find redbacks in and around human made material and environments. They like it warm to hot and dry. I've also come across them between rocks, but elevated away from soil.

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I like the effect captured here, due to the angle of the jumping spider's eyes. They look as if made of glass and a lovely orange colour.

Native to this country. Helpis minitabunda is commonly known as the threatening jumping spider and bronze jumping spider.

Male, 10 mm body length.

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Plebs eburnus is commonly referred to as the eastern grass orb weaver or the eastern bush orb weaver, and sometimes more simply as the bush orb weaver.

It is a spider within the family Araneidae endemic to this country.

The web of some of these spiders can be decorated with nearly vertical stabilimentum, as seen here, directly above the spider.

Female, 7 mm body length.

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The spider family Miturgidae is currently only known to exist in Australia. Spiders within family Miturgidae live in open eucalypt forest, semi-arid areas and desert habitats in all Australian states and territories.

This little fellow found itself in my home.

They resemble wolf spiders to a degree, but without the distinctive Lycosid eye pattern.

Commonly known as prowling and wandering spiders.

Very small, body length around 7 mm.

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A little hiding place for a female Maratus scutulatus jumping spider. Deep within the greenery.

She was so very tiny, perhaps a juvenile.

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I saw an orb weaver resting on a very hot day, deep within an Agave. She had one leg holding on to the leaf, but I noticed one of her tiny tarsal claws on another leg held a strand of silk, perhaps awaiting any vibrations from potential prey visiting her web.

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An orb weaving spider with her beetle prey, encased in silk. Mouth to mouth - not amorous, but a kiss of death.

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A tiny Leucauge dromedaria suspended from her silk. These are nature's jewels, glistening in the sun. Their abdomens, a combination of silver and yellow with mottled markings.

Commonly known as the humped silver orb weaver due to the two humps on the dorsal abdomen. Within family Tetragnathidae, the long-jawed orb weavers.

This is a female, body length 15 mm.

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These intriguing and talented spiders protect themselves from predators by hiding inside an impressively constructed, silk-seamed curled leaf that sits roughly at the middle of their web.

Each curled-leaf retreat, a miracle in itself.

Endemic to the eastern areas of this country. Genus Phonognatha, perhaps graeffei.

Female, 10 mm body length.

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Perhaps gravid given the time of year and her rotund abdomen.

A perfect little bed in the curved leaf of a yucca.

Hortophora is a genus of orb weavers found in the South Pacific region.

Around 30 mm body length.

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Juvenile Dolomedes facetus. So very tiny, but perfect in every way. And I am sure, on the hunt already.

Just a few mm body length.

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A lovely little male lynx spider, genus Oxyopes.

I note that he's missing one of his pedipalps, hopefully he can complete his duties with just the one.

Just 5 mm body length.

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Within genus Salsa, named for the Latin American dance, this tiny orb weaver looks to be in the middle of its own particular dance, captured here on the tips of a conifer.

I think it has some prey in its jaws.

Not sure if male or female, but tiny indeed.

Around 5 mm body length.

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I believe this spider could be within genus Tetragnatha, known commonly as stretch spiders for obvious reasons.

Tetragnatha are long-jawed orb weavers, having elongated bodies, legs and chelicerae.

Body length 10 mm.

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Arachtober 14

The social huntsman is the largest huntsman species here in Australia. These spiders have been observed living in groups, usually several females with young spiders. Hence the common name.

Feeding on insects and other invertebrates. Found all over mainland Australia and Tasmania.

Legs can span over 15 cm. This is a male with a body length of around 2 cm.

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Arachtober 12

Perhaps Argiope keyserlingi, commonly known as St. Andrew's Cross spider. An orb weaver within family Araneidae.

This is a male, as evidenced by his bulbous pedipalps between his front legs.

Tiny at just a few mm body length - yet tenacious and a superb hunter. Here we see him feeding a wrapped catch.

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Arachtober 10

This is a tiny male, as can be evidenced by his bulbous pedipalps between his front legs.

The genus name of Backobourkia is a comical reference to the Australian idiom 'Back of Bourke' meaning extremely remote and away from civilization. They are orb weavers, within family Araneidae.

Not sure of the species here. I believe the genus contains 3 identified species so far.

Around 6 to 7 mm in length.

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Arachtober 8

An awesome spider species, the scorpion-tailed spider is one within genus Arachnura, this one being Arachnura higginsi, native to this country.

They are orb weavers of family Araneidae.

Only the females sport this extended 'tail' which resembles a scorpion somewhat, but contains no sting.

The couple that I have come across so far had made their webs quite close to the ground orientated horizontally.

Here she is hanging from her web, her ventral side on view. With some additional dew-bling as well.

Around 10 to 15 mm length.

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Dorsal view of a net-casting spider (also commonly known as ogre-faced spider). The 'net' is just visible in this shot, held with the front legs.

If and when unsuspecting prey wanders close, the spider will cast the net and wrap its prey in a flash. I've only seen this once in real time, almost too quick for the naked eye.

This is a female. I'm not sure if genus Deinopis or Asianopis after recent revision.

Around 20 mm body length.

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