Identification
Physical Characteristics
Size: Adult females are robust, with a body length of 20mm to 25mm. The males are tiny by comparison, measuring only 5mm to 9mm.
Coloration: Extremely variable, with base colours ranging from pale cream and fawn to rich reddish-brown or dark grey. The abdomen features a complex, often symmetrical pattern of lines, chevrons, and blotches, which helps it blend into its surroundings. The colour can change to match its daytime resting spot.
Key Features: The most cited distinguishing feature is the pair of prominent humps on the 'shoulders' of its abdomen. Its nocturnal habit of building and dismantling a large orb web daily is a key behavioral trait. Its widespread presence in eastern Australian gardens is another identifying factor.
Biology & Lifecycle
Development & Reproduction
Reproduction Rate: A female will typically produce one, or sometimes two, large egg sacs in her lifetime, ensuring the continuation of the species with hundreds of potential offspring.
Lifecycle Details
Egg Stage
In late autumn, the mature female constructs a fluffy egg sac from soft silk, which can range in colour from white to green or yellow. She secures this sac to a protected surface like the underside of a leaf, a tree branch, or under the eaves of a house. The sac contains several hundred eggs and is the only stage of the lifecycle that survives the winter. The adult female typically perishes with the onset of cold weather.
Larval Stage
Spiders do not have a larval stage.
Pupal Stage
Spiders do not have a pupal stage.
Adult Stage
Spiderlings emerge from the egg sac in the warmth of the following spring. After a brief period clustered together, they disperse to build their own small webs. Throughout spring and summer, they hunt, grow, and moult regularly. By late summer or early autumn, they reach sexual maturity. The full lifecycle is annual, lasting approximately one year from egg to adult death.
Reproduction Rate
A female will typically produce one, or sometimes two, large egg sacs in her lifetime, ensuring the continuation of the species with hundreds of potential offspring.
Generations Per Year
A single generation is produced each year. The population is renewed annually from the overwintering egg sacs.
Development Time
The development from a spring-hatching spiderling to a mature adult in autumn takes about 5 to 6 months, heavily dependent on the availability of flying insect prey.
Seasonal Cycle
A distinct annual cycle: emergence in spring, growth in summer, maturation and reproduction in autumn, followed by the death of the adult population in early winter. The most prominent and largest spiders are always seen in autumn.
Environmental Factors
A thriving population requires a habitat with plenty of anchor points for webs, protection from wind, and a consistent supply of night-flying insects, often found in diverse suburban gardens or woodlands.
Habitat & Distribution
Preferred Habitats
- Suburban gardens are a prime habitat, with shrubs, trees, and man-made structures providing ideal web sites.
- Between trees or across paths in open woodlands and forests.
- On man-made structures like pergolas, fences, and around lights that attract insects.
- Particularly common throughout the coastal regions of eastern Australia.
- They thrive in environments with structural diversity and high insect activity.
Distribution Patterns
Australian Distribution
Very common along the entire eastern seaboard of Australia, from northern Queensland, through New South Wales and the ACT, down to Victoria and into parts of South Australia.
Climate Zones
- Tropical
- Subtropical
- Temperate
- Mediterranean
Urban vs Rural Distribution
Extremely well-adapted to suburban life. They are one of the most frequently encountered spiders in backyards along the east coast, often more common in populated areas than in deep forest.
Native Range
Eriophora transmarina is native to Australia and is also found in New Guinea and other nearby islands.
Introduced Range
Not applicable.
Introduction History
Not applicable.
Current Spread
The species is stable and ubiquitous within its native range.
Limiting Factors
Its distribution is limited by arid conditions and is less common in the dry interior of the continent. It also does not fare well in regions with very cold winters.
Behavior & Diet
Activity Pattern
Strictly nocturnal. The spider remains hidden and camouflaged during the day, usually in foliage near the web's location. At dusk, it emerges to spin its large orb web, a process that can take about an hour. It then waits in or near the web's hub all night. Before sunrise, it typically dismantles and consumes most of the web, recycling the silk's proteins.
Dietary Preferences
Feeding Habits
They are generalist carnivores, feeding on any invertebrate they are able to catch and subdue in their web.
Health Risks
Always consult healthcare professionals for medical concerns related to pest exposure.
Disease Transmission
- There is no evidence that they transmit any diseases to humans.
Allergens and Respiratory Issues
Allergic reactions are not a known issue with this species.
Contamination Risk
Zero risk of food or surface contamination.
Vulnerable Populations
- None are physically vulnerable. The only risk is causing anxiety in people with arachnophobia.
Symptoms of Exposure
- A bite is exceedingly rare. If one did occur, it would be from a female defending her egg sac and would likely not even break the skin.
- Potential symptoms would be trivial: a tiny puncture mark, transient local pain, and perhaps a small red spot.
- No serious or lasting symptoms would be expected.
- Medical attention would not be required.
Transmission Methods
- Defensive bite only, which is highly improbable.
Risk Severity
Low. This is a harmless spider.
Economic Impact
Treatment Costs
Professional Treatment
$0. No professional pest control is ever needed.
Prevention Costs
$0.
Diy Treatment
$0. Killing this spider is counterproductive to garden health.
Property Damage
Structural Damage
None.
Garden Damage
None. They are beneficial predators.
Food Contamination
None.
Equipment Damage
None.
Business Impact
Restaurant Issues
A web across an outdoor path or window might need to be removed for aesthetic reasons, but the spider itself poses no risk.
Retail Impact
None.
Reputation Damage
None.
Operational Disruption
Minimal, limited to brushing away an inconvenient web.
Agricultural Impact
Crop Damage
None.
Yield Loss
None.
Beneficial Aspects
Highly beneficial in controlling night-flying insect pests in gardens, orchards, and agricultural settings. Their presence reduces the need for chemical insecticides and contributes to a balanced ecosystem.
Economic Loss
Provides a net economic benefit through its pest control services.
Indirect Costs
Healthcare Costs
None.
Cleanup Costs
None, other than occasionally wiping away a web.
Replacement Costs
None.
Detection & Signs
Visual Signs
- The appearance of large, geometric, wheel-shaped webs in the evenings.
- Walking through a sticky web is often the first and most startling sign.
- Seeing the large, brown spider sitting head-down in the center of its web at night.
- Finding the spider hidden in a daytime retreat, camouflaged in nearby foliage.
- The discovery of fluffy, silk egg sacs in sheltered locations in autumn.
Physical Evidence
- The web itself, which may have insect husks wrapped in silk attached to it.
- The overwintering egg sac is the most durable physical sign.
- They leave no other traces like droppings or damage.
Behavioral Signs
- The consistent nightly appearance and morning disappearance of a web in the same location.
- The spider vibrating its web when disturbed.
- The sudden rush from the hub to wrap up a captured insect.
Seasonal Indicators
- The first small webs appear in spring.
- Webs and spiders grow noticeably larger throughout summer.
- Peak size and abundance in late summer and autumn (the 'spider season').
- A complete absence of adults during winter.
Early Warning Signals
- Spotting the first small orb webs in your garden in late spring is the earliest indication of their presence for the season.
Prevention
Sanitation Measures
- No sanitation is required. These spiders are not attracted to waste or uncleanliness.
Exclusion Methods
- If you wish to prevent webs in specific areas like doorways or barbecue areas, turning off nearby lights at night will reduce the number of insects attracted to that spot, making it a less appealing location for the spider.
- Regularly brushing down the area can discourage the spider from rebuilding there.
Landscaping Tips
- To prevent webs across paths, ensure there is a wide clearance between vegetation on either side.
- Conversely, to encourage these beneficial spiders, plant a diverse range of shrubs to provide anchor points and support a healthy insect population.
- Be cautious when tidying up the garden in autumn and winter to avoid destroying the overwintering egg sacs.
Monitoring Strategies
- No formal monitoring is needed. Simply be aware of your garden environment, especially when walking outside after dark during summer and autumn.
- A 'web check' with a torch before using a path at night can prevent walking into one.
Environmental Modification
- The only modification is to encourage their presence by fostering a healthy garden, or discourage them from specific spots by making those spots less attractive (e.g., fewer lights, clearing vegetation).
Control Methods
Professional Treatment Methods
Chemical Control
Absolutely not recommended. Chemical treatment is inappropriate, unnecessary, and environmentally harmful for this beneficial native species.
Biological Control
Not applicable.
Physical Control
No professional is needed. If a web must be removed, it can be done with a broom.
Integrated Approach
The best integrated approach is to appreciate its role in your garden's pest management system.
DIY Treatment Options
Natural Remedies
The best 'remedy' is co-existence.
Home Made Traps
Not applicable or necessary.
Deterrent Methods
Reducing outdoor lighting near paths and doorways is the most effective deterrent.
Mechanical Control
If a web is in a high-traffic area, gently knock it down with a broom. The spider will be unharmed and will likely choose a better spot the next night.
Treatment Effectiveness
Success Rate
Brushing a web down is 100% effective at removing it for that night.
Timeframe
Immediate.
Follow Up Required
The spider may try to rebuild in the same spot, so the action might need to be repeated.
Seasonal Considerations
This will primarily be an issue in summer and autumn when the spiders are large and active.
Application Techniques
- The Broom Method: Gently use a broom or stick to clear a web from a path.
- The Light Management Method: Reduce external lighting to make areas less attractive to insects and, consequently, spiders.
Professional Services
Professional Treatment Services
Chemical Control
Absolutely not recommended. Chemical treatment is inappropriate, unnecessary, and environmentally harmful for this beneficial native species.
Biological Control
Not applicable.
Physical Control
No professional is needed. If a web must be removed, it can be done with a broom.
Integrated Approach
The best integrated approach is to appreciate its role in your garden's pest management system.
Professional Treatment Costs
$0. No professional pest control is ever needed.
Treatment Success Rates
Brushing a web down is 100% effective at removing it for that night.
Treatment Timeframe
Immediate.
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Browse All ProvidersSeasonal Patterns
Spring Activity
Spiderlings hatch and disperse. They are small and their webs are inconspicuous. This is a period of slow growth.
Summer Activity
Rapid growth occurs. The spiders and their webs become much larger and more noticeable. They are active hunters every night.
Autumn Activity
This is the peak season. Spiders reach their maximum size and are most visible. Mating occurs, and females produce their egg sacs.
Winter Activity
The adult generation dies off. The species is dormant, surviving only as eggs within the protected egg sac.
Breeding Season
Late summer through to mid-autumn.
Peak Activity Period
Not an infestation, but their presence is most pronounced in autumn (March-May), when they are largest.
Environmental Factors
Temperature Effects
Warmth drives their growth and activity; cold is lethal to adults.
Humidity Effects
Helps maintain the web's stickiness.
Photoperiod Effects
The length of the night dictates their active hunting period.
Weather Patterns
Heavy wind or rain can destroy webs, forcing them to expend energy to rebuild.
Legal Considerations
Pest Status
Not a pest. A beneficial native Australian spider.
Control Regulations
None. Control is discouraged.
Professional Requirements
None.
Environmental Considerations
Killing this spider is detrimental to the local ecosystem's balance. It removes a significant predator of pest insects, potentially leading to an increase in mosquitoes and moths.
Compliance Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between this spider and a normal Garden Orb spider?
The 'Australian Garden Orb-weaver' (*Eriophora transmarina*) and the 'Garden Orb Web Spider' (*Eriophora pustulosa*) are very closely related, and for most people, the difference is unnoticeable and unimportant. Both are nocturnal, build large orb webs, are harmless, and are highly beneficial. The main subtle difference that arachnologists use to distinguish them is the shape of the abdomen. *E. transmarina* tends to have two very distinct humps on the 'shoulders' of its abdomen, making it look broad. *E. pustulosa* tends to have a more rounded or generally lumpy abdomen without those pronounced shoulder humps. However, both species are highly variable in colour and shape, and their habitats and behaviours are nearly identical. For the average homeowner, they can be treated as the same beneficial garden resident.
Is the Australian Garden Orb-weaver dangerous?
No, it is not dangerous at all. It is one of the most harmless spiders you can encounter in Australia, despite its relatively large size. They are extremely timid and non-aggressive. Their venom is weak and formulated to paralyze small insects, not harm large mammals. A bite to a human is incredibly rare and would only happen if the spider was being crushed against skin, for example. Even then, its small fangs would likely struggle to pierce the skin, and the venom would cause, at worst, minor, short-lived local irritation similar to a mosquito bite. They pose no medical threat to humans or pets.
How do I stop them from building webs on my deck?
The most effective and humane way to manage this is to make the area less attractive to them. These spiders build webs where insects are plentiful. Outdoor lights on your deck attract moths and other nocturnal insects, creating a perfect buffet for the spider. By turning off these lights or switching to yellow 'bug-repellent' bulbs, you can significantly reduce the insect traffic, and the spider will likely move elsewhere to find better hunting grounds. If a web is already built, you can simply sweep it away with a broom. The spider will be unharmed and will get the message that it's not a suitable location. Repeating this for a couple of nights will usually solve the problem without harming the beneficial spider.
Why do I only see them in autumn?
While the spiders are present in your garden from spring onwards, you tend to notice them most in autumn for two main reasons. Firstly, they have been growing all summer long, and by autumn, they have reached their maximum size, making both them and their webs much larger and more conspicuous. Secondly, autumn is their peak mating season, and their activity is at its highest. The large females are heavily laden with eggs and need to eat a lot, so they build their biggest and most impressive webs during this time. The combination of their large size and peak activity makes them a very common and obvious sight during the autumn months before they die off at the start of winter.
Does this spider eat its own web?
Yes, it is a master of recycling. The silk a spider produces is rich in protein and takes a lot of energy to create. To conserve these valuable resources, the Australian Garden Orb-weaver will often consume its own web each morning just before dawn. It carefully gathers the silk strands and eats them, digesting the protein to use for the next night's web construction. It typically leaves the main frame lines of the web in place and only eats the sticky spiral. This incredible behaviour allows it to build a fresh, effective trap every single night without constantly depleting its energy reserves. It's one of the most efficient recycling systems in the natural world.
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