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.

Females are much larger than males and are the golden orb weaving spiders most often noticed in large webs. 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.

Tiny male golden orb weaving spiders are much smaller than the large female in her web.

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. Much smaller males may move carefully around the edge of the female’s web before mating. 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 – explore insects, spiders and other small animals found across Sydney and NSW.
• Arachnids fact sheet – learn about spiders, mites, ticks and other arachnids.
• Spider fact sheet – learn about spider body parts, silk, webs, venom and hunting methods.
• Garden orb weaving spider fact sheet – compare golden orb weaving spiders with another orb-weaving spider.
• St Andrew’s Cross spider fact sheet – learn about another spider that builds an orb-shaped web.

Animals that share this habitat

• Huntsman spider fact sheet – compare web-building spiders with active hunting spiders.
• Trapdoor spider fact sheet – compare orb-weaving spiders with burrow-dwelling ambush hunters.
• Jumping spider fact sheet – learn about small spiders that hunt using excellent eyesight.
• Praying mantid fact sheet – learn about another invertebrate predator found on plants and shrubs.

Habitats and ecosystems

• Shrub habitats fact sheet – shrubs provide web supports, shelter and insect prey.
• Tree habitats fact sheet – trees provide branches, bark and leaves where spiders and insects live.
• Mangrove forest fact sheet – mangroves are one habitat where golden orb weaving spiders may be found.
• Eucalypt forest fact sheet – eucalypt forests support shrubs, insects, spiders and other food-web links.
• Field of Mars Reserve fact sheet – explore the local bushland habitats that support spiders and other animals.

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