Celaenia excavata (Bird-dropping spider)
Although classified in the orb-weaving spider family Araneidae, this spider does not make an orb web. Instead it simply hangs by a short thread of silk from a leaf at night, with its legs outstretched, waiting for prey. This would not be a productive feeding strategy, except that the spider emits a chemical that mimics the pheromone of certain female moths; the male moths are fooled and, following the scent trail, are seized by the spider. During the day it sits exposed on a leaf surface, motionless and with legs tightly drawn against its body. With its mottled brown and white colour pattern it looks like a bird dropping and is ignored by predators such as birds.
Celaenia excavata is listed in the following regions:
Canberra & Southern Tablelands | South Coast
Species information
- Celaenia excavata Scientific name
- Bird-dropping spider Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- Up to 702m Recorded at altitude
- Machine learning
- External link More information
Location information
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Maps
ANBG Aranda Bushland Black Mountain Gungahlin Pond Lake Burley Griffin Central/East Lions Youth Haven - Westwood Farm A.C.T. Mount Painter National Arboretum Forests Percival Hill Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve Tuggeranong Hill Wandiyali-Environa Conservation Area -
Survey points
Point 4150 -
Places
Parkes, ACT Russell, ACT
