Deinopis subrufa
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| Deinopis subrufa L. Koch, 1879 |
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Deinopis subrufa (also called Rufous Net-casting Spider) is a species of net-casting spiders. It occurs in eastern Australia and Tasmania. It is a nocturnal hunter, having excellent eyesight, and hunts using a silken net to capture its prey. They feed on a variety of Insects - Ants, Beetles, Crickets and other Spiders. They can vary in colour from Fawn, to Pinkish Brown or Chocolate Brown. Females are about 25mm, males about 22mm. They are non dangerous to humans.
This species is often found on a few strands of web in forest, woodland and heathland, or on flat surfaces for example on the outside of houses.
[edit] Mating
Males will usually shed their last skin and then seek a suitable female to mate with. They will rest on the outer skirts of the female's web, and will gently pluck the web to show her that they are interested. Once the male has mated with the female, he dies. The female then constructs a globular egg sac, approximately 10-12mm in diameter. It is generally a light Brown, or Fawn colour, with black specks on it and contains anywhere from 100-200 eggs. It is usually disguised and protected by a leaf. Once the female has constructed the egg sac and laid the eggs, she will usually leave it to its own protection. After around 3 weeks, the young hatch, like most Spiders, they eat the egg sac for nutrients.
[edit] Name
The genus name deinos is Greek for "fearful" and opis is Greek for "appearance", hence the common name of "Ogre-faced spiders". The species name subrufa is Latin for "slightly reddish".
