General Description
Cephalothorax and legs red-brown, abdomen with an irregular creamy-yellow chevroned pattern on the upperside. Stout, oval-shaped abdomen with slender, long legs. Body of males to 5 mm, females to 8 mm long.
Biology
The leaf-curling spider is commonly found throughout southern Australia in open woodland and forest habitats as well as urban gardens. It normally uses a leaf in the centre of the web for protection, mainly from birds, but many other objects may be used as a shelter in the web including snail shells and old bus tickets. Large numbers of this spider may occur in a localised area; however, unlike the spiny spider, all webs are solitary. Food consists mainly of flying insects. Egg sacs are placed inside a folded leaf suspended some distance outside the main web.
Distribution
Eastern mainland Australia and Tasmania.
Habitat
Open woodland, forest habitats and urban gardens.
More Information
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Animal Type
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Animal SubType
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Brief Id
Resides in orb web with curled leaf or other retreat placed in the centre; body with creamy-yellow pattern on the abdomen.
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Colours
Brown, Red, White
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Maximum Size
8.0 mm
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Habitats
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Where To Look
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Diet
Insects
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Hazards
Bites from this spider are rare but may cause local reaction, including localised pain and swelling at the site of the bite.
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Endemicity
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Conservation Statuses
CITES: Not listed, FFG Threatened List: Not listed, EPBC Act 1999: Not listed, IUCN Red List: Not listed
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Web
Web
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Taxon Name
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Scientific Author
(Keyserling, 1865)
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Common Name
Leaf-curling Spider
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Kingdom
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Phylum
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Subphylum
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Class
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Order
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Infraorder
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Family
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Genus
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Species Name
graeffei