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Net Casting Spider A Net casting spider awaits the approach of insects with its net held by front four legs. It's eight eyes provide very good eyesight and it will hang head down awaiting approaching insect prey. To catch it's prey it will stretch the net 3 to 4 times the normal size and lunge downwards trapping its prey in the net Australia,Deinopis subrufa,Geotagged,Spiders,Summer Click/tap to enlarge Species introCountry intro

Net Casting Spider

A Net casting spider awaits the approach of insects with its net held by front four legs. It's eight eyes provide very good eyesight and it will hang head down awaiting approaching insect prey. To catch it's prey it will stretch the net 3 to 4 times the normal size and lunge downwards trapping its prey in the net

    comments (6)

  1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
    Ferdy Christant
    Lion
    View Lion class
    Wow, never seen this behavior before. So it holds the web with its legs, isn't that inefficient compared to having a large web that does not need holding? Just curious :)

    Would love to know the name of this species, do you know it?     Posted 10 years ago
    1. View travismorhardt's profile
      travismorhardt
      Lion
      View Lion class
      Some may argue that waiting in a web is inefficient. This sinister little guy has decided that he isn't patient and is going out to eat ;)

      I would agree though, that since most spiders build webs and wait for their meals is more efficient, less energy expended.       Posted 10 years ago
      1. View Ferdy Christant's profile
        Ferdy Christant
        Lion
        View Lion class
        Yeah, there must be a reason, natural selection has decided that this strategy works, otherwise this spider would not exist. Posted 10 years ago
    3. View RDodd's profile
      RDodd
      Musk Oxen
      View Musk Oxen class
      Well I dont know about the efficiency issue I'm not sure that everything in the natural world is efficient.
      The spider is known as Deinopsis subrafa but that is not accepted by the species identification although I thought I had requested it
      Regards
      Rob       Posted 10 years ago
      1. View WildFlower's profile
        WildFlower
        Lion
        View Lion class
        It was a matter of spelling error, a wiki page exists for it - Deinopis subrufa. Posted 10 years ago
  3. View Claire Hamilton's profile
    Claire Hamilton
    Lion
    View Lion class
    Oh I am so jealous right now, I have always wanted to see one of these spiders! Unfortunately I cannot help with an ID at the moment but I will give it a try. Posted 10 years ago

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The Rufous Net-casting Spider

''Deinopis subrufa'' 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.

Info 10 1
Similar species: Spiders
Species identified by WildFlower
View RDodd's profile

By RDodd

All rights reserved
Uploaded Jan 24, 2015. Captured Jan 23, 2015 18:00 in 302-304 Gymea Bay Road, Gymea Bay NSW 2227, Australia.
country flag of Australia Explore Australia 13,073 4,173 3
  • NIKON D3200
  • f/5.3
  • 10/600s
  • ISO400
  • 44mm
Captured in the summer. More summer photos.