Skip to main content
Close

Cribellate Orb Weaver

Zosis geniculata

Photo by John B.
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

15.4558, 119.921

Field Notes

Description:

Uloboridae; Zosis; Zosis geniculata (Olivier, 1789). "Zosis geniculata sometimes referred to as the humped spider or grey house spider,[citation needed] is a cosmopolitan species with a pantropical distribution. In Australia, it is often seen in buildings near human habitation." Wikipedia. I prefer to use the Common Name "Cribellate Orb Weaver" for this spider and its near relative Uloborus plumipes simply because that name highlights the single most important feature of these spiders - Cribellate Silk. It is generally known that orb weaving spiders capture prey using silk which is sticky, but the Uloborids have a different technique. They use "Cribellate" silk which is mostly made up from nano fibres. Apparently prey get tangled in this and can't escape (because the silk is immensely strong) without any stickiness being involved.

Habitat:

This Zosis geniculata was spotted, in our front garden, building a web on some plants growing up against the garden wall.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (0)

Be the first to comment

Sign in to comment
Photographed
PublishedJuly 3, 2022

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Image
Butterflies icon

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon