Sheetweb spider
Photo by Aaron Scott–Boddendijk
Order: Araneae
Family: Stiphidiidae
Size range
- Large spider. Body length about 25 mm
Distribution
- Several New Zealand species.
- Common in gardens.
Life History
- Builds a horizontal web with fine vertical threads above that act as knockdown threads
- Has a tunnel retreat for daytime use
- At night the spider waits under the web and immobilises the prey by biting through the web
