Backobourkia orb weaver

Backobourkia is an example of one of the spiders that make the familiar vertical orb-web usually at face level.

The web is usually eaten after a night's use and renewed the next evening. During the day the spiders remain in a hiding place nearby such as here on a Duranta repens leaf.

This is a pale form, matching perfectly to its surroundings. The pattern of projections on the upper surface of the abdomen is characteristic of this genus. As of April 2019, genus Backobourkia contains only three species: B. brouni, B. collina, and B. heroine. B.brouni tend to dominate here in the east.

Body length 15mm.