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This Dew Drop Spider has a rounded abdomen - this could be a female with eggs. They build their small egg sacs near the edge of the Orb Weaver's web. The Orb Weaver doesn't seem to mind sharing the web with some tiny Dew Drops..
Photograph copyright: ozwildlife - all rights reserved. Used with permission.
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The Dew Drop Spider is a tiny spider about 3-4mm long. It has a conical abdomen that is mostly silver in colour. The Dew Drop doesn't build a web of its own - it is found sharing the web of the much larger spiders such as the Golden Orb Weaver (Nephila sp.) and Garden Orb Weaver (Eriophora sp.). They shine like drops of dew in the large web of the Orb Weaver.
Photograph copyright: ozwildlife - all rights reserved. Used with permission.
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I was taking photos of a large Garden Orb Weaver feeding on a grasshopper when I noticed a Dew Drop spider coming down to join in the feed. If you look carefully, you will see a small silver/white spot just above the grasshopper's knee - that is the tiny Dew Drop - note how small it is compared with the Orb Weaver. This is real safari stuff in your back yard - the Dew Drops are like the vultures that come in to share scraps from the kill.
Photograph copyright: ozwildlife - all rights reserved. Used with permission.
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DEW DROP SPIDER FACTS |
Description
The Dew Drop Spider is a small spider with shiny silver abdomen , making it look like a drop of dew. It is often found on the web of the Golden Orb Weaver spider.
Size
Female 3mm, male 2.5mm
Habitat
On the edge of the web of a large orb-weaver.
Food
The Dew Drop Spider feeds on small insects that land in the host orb weavers web. It also joins the host orb weaver in feeding on larger prey.
Notes
Bite unlikely to be harmful due to small size.
Classification
| Class: | Arachnida | | Order: | Araneomorphae | | Family: | Theridiidae | | Genus: | Argyrodes | | Species: | antipodianus | | Common Name: | Dew Drop Spider |
Relatives in same Genus
Theridion spider - unknown species (A. unknown species)
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