Tent
Spiders
by Prue
 Introduction:
There are many different species of Tent Spiders in Australia. The
largest Tent Spider is 19mm long and is found in the northern parts of
Australia. The female has a grey head and a black body with white spots.
The tiny male Tent Spider has an orange body. The Latin name for the
Tent Spider is Cyrtophora spp.
Habitat: The
Tent Spider is found all over the north and east regions of Australia
and around some islands close to Ausralia's coastline. The Tent Spider
makes an orb web that looks like a tent. The spider makes its web
horizontally across the ground (which can reach anywhere up to 4 metres
in length) with the centre pulled vertical so the web is shaped like a
tent. The webs are always positioned in trees or in gardens with
suitable foliage. Inside the tent is another tent, if an insect flies in
the tent, the spider covers up the torn web to hide the insect from any
other prey. They are found in shaded warm areas - gardens, litter,
trees, walls and paths. This spider is most often seen in Summer, north
from
Coffs Harbour, NSW.
Prey:
The Tent Spider eats
whatever flies into its web; flies, grasshoppers, butterflies and other
insects. The Tent Spider does not eat birds.
Breeding: The Tent Spider
has a green egg sac placed in the web. The spider makes four woolly
green egg sacs which are attached to the top of the web. The female dies
and she leaves her young alone to fend for themsleves.
Venom: The venom has no
effect on humans, only to insects.
Information
and pictures were taken from children's projects and where credited to that
child does not claim to be original information. Where possible, permission
to reproduce has been sought. Any infringement of copyright is purely
unintentional.
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