MAGNIFICENT SPIDER EGGS

The Magnificent Spider Ordgarius magnificus is a Bolas spider, of which there are three species in eastern Australia. These spiders are sophisticated anglers. They hunt at night, using a 'fishing' line of silk with a sticky silk globule on the end that is baited with pheromones. It twirls this in the air when it senses the vibrations of a moth approaching. The moth is eventually hit by the bait, sticking to it so that the spider can wind it in and give it a bite to immobilise it. The prey may be eaten straight away or stored in a silk wrapping for later.

During the day they shelter in a nest of leaves bound together with silk, normally preferring Eucalypts or wet sclerophyll forest. Its eggs are often found nearby.

Up to seven egg sacs are spun over a week's time and each one can contain around 600 eggs. These numbers are help to combat the odds as the egg sacs are often parasitised by wasps.

Magnificent Spiders are not toxic to humans.