Leucauge granulata (Silver Orb Spider)

Showing underside
From above
Side on
On tree trunk
On Twig
On leaf
Against sky
From above
Showing hairs on leg IV
Male from above
Male from side
Male from side
Male face on
Juvenile, from above
Spiderling < 1mm from above

Silver Orb Spiders make a small orb web in spaces between shrubs, the web typically being slanted (often nearly horizontal) rather than vertical. The spider rests under the centre of the web with its underside facing upwards. Common in backyards, especially in moist areas. Males 4-6mm, females up to 15mm body length. They feed on a variety of small insects such as moths, bugs, flies and beetles. They have bright silver oval-shaped abdomens with black patterns. Upper parts (close to the body) of the legs are often green. The cephalothorax is buff-brown, to orange brown, sometimes greenish. They are extremely fast, dropping rapidly down from their launching position when disturbed.

Because of their long legs, they can build webs with wide space between the radii. As they hang upside down in their nearly horizontal webs they are camouflaged against the vegetation velow by their darker underneath pattens, and against the sky and foliage above by the silver patterns. Adults gave a prominent hump on the anterior portion of the abdomen. The large black dots are tubercles.

Leucauge granulata is the accepted name for the Silver Orb spider referred to in guides in South East Queensland as Leucauge dromedaria, a previous name. Mascord 1980 includes L. decorata, which he notes is common in Queensland around homes in gardens and low shrubs. This is probably also the spider we now know as L. granulata.