Ready to Cast its Net

The species Asianopis luzonensis of Net Casting Spider was newly described from Philippines in the year 2018.

The genus name refers to the region Asia where several species of this Net Casting are found. The species luzonensis refers to the location where they can be found.

Asianopis luzonensis were described from Central and Southern Luzon Island but I have personally seen them in North Luzon, not sure if those from North Luzon are of the same species or not.

This picture was taken in June 2014 and I have seen several of them from different parts of Luzon in the year 2014 and 2015.

They are commonly known as Net Casting Spider for the way they construct their webbings which they used as nets to catch their prey, this technique can be seen in this video :

comments (4)

Ruth Spigelman

Lion

Excellent! Always gives me a buzz to come across a net-caster with web-net in situ. I've only ever found females with one, I thought perhaps the males are too busy out wandering and looking to mate to eat. Posted 5 years ago
1. Albert Kang
  
  Lion
  
  Thank you, Ruth.
  I believe they only hunts in the late afternoon or more likely at night and that's more suitable for me as I usually prefers to do night walks and easier to find them at the ready to cast their net to capture prey. However, I do note that I have to be quick to take my pics as several occasions when I shine my torch on them for too long, they will folds their nets and retrace to a branch to hide. Posted 5 years ago