Tropical tent-web spider

One of the strangest spiders I have seen, it is hanging upside down so the top part of the picture is it's back.
Cyrtophora citricola is the only species of tent-web spiders in South Africa.

comments (2)

Sunil R Agadi

Lion

I have never seen a spider building its dwelling, Is this the purpose to lay the eggs ? Posted 11 years ago
1. Claire Hamilton
  
  Lion
  
  I think mostly a web is for catching prey, different spiders have different ways of protecting their eggs, sometimes in the web, sometimes on their bodies and sometimes elsewhere! Posted 11 years ago

The Tropical Tent-Web Spider

''Cyrtophora citricola'', also known as the Tropical Tent-Web Spider, is an araneid spider that occurs in the warmer parts of Europe, Asia and Africa, but also Australia, Costa Rica, Hispaniola and Colombia. It can now also be found in other parts, such as Florida, where it was first found in 2000.

Although it is in the family commonly called Orb Web Spiders, this spider does not build orb webs. Their horizontal web forms a cone in the middle, with many support lines holding it. The web.. more

Info 10 0

Similar species: Spiders

Species identified by Claire Hamilton

By Claire Hamilton

Uploaded Feb 7, 2014. Captured Feb 7, 2014 15:03 in N2, South Africa.

Explore South Africa 1,841 673 0

Canon EOS 70D
f/9.0
1/21s
ISO1000
100mm

Captured in the summer. More summer photos.