About 30 genera and 260 species have been recorded in Australia. Generally, the spider constructs its web in the evenings and takes it down again at dawn. There have been 74 confirmed sightings of Gasteracantha (Spiny Orb-weavers), with the most recent sighting submitted on July 31, 2019 by Spider ID member tangledweb. Johan Christian Fabricius described the spider in 1775. A heavy dew and some sunlight reveal the typical wheel-like structure of an orb web. Orb weaving spiders are found throughout Australia. The large Genus is Eriophora (=Araneus) with 110 species. One of the bright-hued spiders is the spiny orb weaver, Gasteracantha cancriformis. It is widely distributed in the New World. Spiny spiders are not as rare as you may think and are found all over the world. Infestations can become large, as their egg sacs contain over 200 offspring. There are more than one hundred kinds of this spider living in Australia. Although not as large as some of the other orb weavers, its combined color, shape, and distinctive web makes G. cancriformis a very recognizable spider. Well known spiders in this family are the Argiope, the garden spider or St Andrew's cross spider, the curled leaf spider and the spiny (Christmas) spider. Everything you should know about the Orb Weaver. Based on collected data, the geographic range for Gasteracantha includes 13 countries and 10 states in the United States. It's easy to see how it earns either moniker. It is the only species in its genus. The spiny orb weaving spider has six pointy “spines” protruding from along its side. The spiny-orb weaver belongs to the genus of orb-weaving spiders and has received its name because of the spiny texture visible on the abdomen. Spiny Orb Weaver The spiny orb weaver is the only arachnid to make it to the list of most amazing spiny animals. The spider rests head-down in the centre of the web, waiting for prey. The detailed statistics below may not utilize the complete dataset of 74 sightings because of … Besides different parts of Asia, species of this genus is also seen in the continents of America, Africa, and Australia. Because these spiders are predacious on insects that often cause damage to crops and garden plants, they are actually very beneficial spiders. The Australian Garden Orb Weaver is a species of common fat-bellied spiders. Orb weaver spiders live throughout the world, with the exceptions of the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Although not as large as some of the other orb weavers, its combined color, shape, and distinctive web makes G. cancriformis a very recognizable spider. Orb Weaver is a family of spiders with large, colorful bodies, which weave circular webs. They are often seen in bushy areas in Australia, waiting upside down in their web, patiently waiting for their prey. The Garden Orb-Weaver makes a web at night and takes it down every morning. The Golden Orb Weaving Spiders build large, semi-permanent orb webs. Specimens were collected at Cooktown on Cook's 1770 voyage by Banks and Solander. Araneids have eight similar eyes, hairy or spiny legs, and no stridulating organs. BEHAVIOR: The spiny-backed orb weaver spins flat, orb-shaped webs in shrubs, trees and in the corners of windows, soffits and similar outdoor areas of buildings. The strong silk has a golden sheen. COLOR: A brightly colored spider that has a hard, white abdomen with red markings and black spines protruding from the edges. Newly discovered neon-green spider named after the 'Lady Gaga of ... A Beautiful Orb-weaver Spider Weaving His Web. The long horned orb-weaver, Macracantha arcuata, is also known as the curved spiny spider.