Golden orb weaving spider fact sheet | Field of Mars EEC

What are golden orb weaving spiders?

Golden orb weaving spiders are large Australian spiders that spin strong, orb-shaped webs made from golden-coloured silk. Orb means round or circular. These spiders often sit near the centre of their web during the day, waiting for flying insects to become trapped.

This fact sheet focuses on Trichonephila plumipes, the species commonly seen around Sydney. Some Australian references and older image files use its older scientific name, Nephila plumipes.

Golden orb weaving spiders may look large, but they are not aggressive. They should still be observed carefully and left alone.

A golden orb weaving spider.

What do golden orb weaving spiders look like?

Male and female golden orb weaving spiders look very different. Females are large, with a grey to brown abdomen, long legs and yellow markings on some leg joints. Their size makes them one of the most noticeable spiders in Sydney bushland and gardens.

Males are much smaller than females. Several tiny males may be found near the edge of a female’s web, waiting for a chance to mate.

Two tiny male golden orb weaving spiders above the large female in her web.

Female golden orb weaving spider.

Where do golden orb weaving spiders live?

Golden orb weaving spiders are found in many parts of Australia. Around Sydney, they can be seen in bushland, gardens, parks, mangroves and areas with dense shrubs or trees.

They build their webs in open spaces between branches, shrubs or other supports. These web positions help them catch insects flying through gaps in the vegetation. At Field of Mars Reserve, shrub layers, trees and track edges can provide places for orb-weaving spiders to build their webs.

Female golden orb weaving spiders build large webs between shrubs, trees and other supports.

What do golden orb weaving spiders eat?

Golden orb weaving spiders are predators. They wait in their webs for flying insects to become trapped in the sticky silk. When prey hits the web, the spider senses the vibrations, moves towards the prey, bites it and wraps it in silk.

Their usual prey includes flies, beetles, moths, grasshoppers and cicadas. Very rarely, their strong webs may trap small animals such as tiny birds or microbats, but this is unusual.

Female golden orb weaving spider feeding on a lady beetle.

What is the life cycle of a golden orb weaving spider?

Golden orb weaving spiders hatch from eggs as tiny spiderlings. Young spiders grow by moulting, which means they shed their outer body covering as they become larger.

When mature, a female builds and maintains a large web. Males are much smaller and may move carefully around the edge of the female’s web. After mating, the female produces an egg sac wrapped in golden silk. The egg sac is usually hidden away from the main web, often among leaves, twigs or bark.

Tiny spiderlings hatch from the eggs and live independently. They do not stay with the mother spider.

Female golden orb weaving spider on her golden egg sac.

What adaptations do golden orb weaving spiders have to help them survive?

Golden orb weaving spiders have strong silk that helps them build large webs. Their orb-shaped webs are useful for catching flying insects, while extra barrier threads around the web can help protect the spider from predators such as birds.

They can sense vibrations through the web. This helps them tell when prey is trapped and can also warn them when something larger has touched the web. If disturbed, a golden orb weaving spider may move away, climb higher into the web or vibrate the web to confuse a predator.

When food is plentiful, golden orb weaving spiders may store wrapped prey in the web. This food cache acts like a small pantry that can be eaten later.

Female golden orb weaving spiders weave large circular webs to trap flying insects.

Why are golden orb weaving spiders important?

Golden orb weaving spiders are important predators in bushland food webs. By catching flying insects, they help transfer energy through the ecosystem and provide food for other animals.

They can also be food for birds, spider-hunting wasps and other predators. Some tiny spiders may even live in golden orb weaving spider webs and feed on small scraps or trapped insects.

Golden orb weaving spiders show why shrubs, trees and quiet corners of habitat are important. A web needs space, support and a steady supply of insects.

Tiny dewdrop spiders may live near larger orb-weaver webs and feed on scraps or small trapped insects.

How can you help golden orb weaving spiders?

You can help golden orb weaving spiders by protecting bushland habitat and leaving webs alone where it is safe to do so. If a web is across a path, walk around it rather than breaking it.

Planting local native plants can support insects, which in turn support spiders, birds and other animals. Avoid unnecessary pesticide use, especially around flowering plants and garden edges where insects and spiders live.

If you find a golden orb weaving spider, observe it from a safe distance. Do not touch, poke or handle the spider.

Leaving spider webs undisturbed helps golden orb weaving spiders survive in gardens and bushland.

Related fact sheets

More invertebrate fact sheets

• Invertebrate fact sheets – overview
• Arachnids fact sheet – overview of arachnid body parts and groups
• Spider fact sheet – overview of spiders and their features
• Garden orb weaving spider fact sheet – another orb-weaving spider for comparison
• St Andrew’s Cross spider fact sheet – another orb-web spider for comparison
• Trapdoor spider fact sheet – contrasts orb-weaving with burrow-dwelling ambush hunters
• Huntsman spider fact sheet – a large active hunting spider that does not use a web to catch prey

Habitats and ecosystems

• Shrub habitat fact sheet
• Tree habitats fact sheet

• Field of Mars Reserve fact sheet
• Mangrove forest fact sheet

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