Phonognatha melanopyga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Phonognatha melanopyga |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Artifex
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| Species: |
melanopyga
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The Artifex melanopyga, also known as the leaf curling spider, is a fascinating creature. It is a common spider found in Australia, especially in the moist coastal areas of New South Wales and Queensland. This spider is a small member of the Araneidae family, which are famous for building beautiful, circular webs.
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About the Leaf Curling Spider
The leaf curling spider gets its name from its clever habit of curling a leaf to create a safe home right in the middle of its web. This curled leaf acts like a tiny fort, protecting the spider from bad weather and predators.
What Does It Look Like?
This spider has a plump, oval-shaped body, which is usually light in color. It has a dark mark at the very back of its body. This dark mark is actually where the spider's scientific name, "melanopyga," comes from. "Melano" means dark, and "pyga" means rump or rear. You might also see other dark marks forming cool patterns on its back. Its legs are light brown, but the joints where the leg bends are darker.
Female leaf curling spiders are about 9 millimeters long, which is less than half an inch. Males are a bit smaller, usually around 7 millimeters.
Where Do They Live?
Leaf curling spiders prefer places that are moist and close to the coast. This means you'll often find them in gardens, forests, and other green spaces in New South Wales and Queensland. They are quite common, so you might even spot one in your own backyard!
How Do They Build Their Homes?
These spiders are amazing engineers! They carefully select a leaf, often one that is already a bit dry or damaged. Then, they use their silk to pull the edges of the leaf together, curling it into a tube or cone shape. They secure this curled leaf with more silk, making a cozy and hidden retreat. This shelter is then placed right in the center of their orb web.
Hunting for Food
Like other orb-weavers, the leaf curling spider builds a circular web to catch its food. The web is made of strong, sticky silk threads. When an insect, like a fly or a mosquito, flies into the web, it gets stuck. The spider, hiding safely in its curled leaf, feels the vibrations of the struggling insect. It then quickly rushes out to wrap its prey in silk before enjoying its meal.
