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Giant Wood Spider - Male & Female

Nephila pilipes

Description:

Nephila pilipes is a species of golden orb-web spider. It can be found in Japan, China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Singapore, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Philippines, Sri Lanka, India, Papua New Guinea, and Northern Australia. It is commonly found in primary and secondary forests and gardens. Females are large and grow to a body size of 30–50 mm (overall size up to 20 cm), with males growing to 5–6 mm. It is one of the biggest spiders in the world. The Nephila pilipes' web is vertical with a fine irregular mesh and not symmetrical, with the hub is usually nearer the top. Rather than egg sacks being hung in the web, a pit is dug which is then covered with plant debris or soil. The first, second and fourth pairs of legs of juvenile females have dense hairy brushes, but as the spider matures these brushes disappear.

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15 Comments

NuwanChathuranga
NuwanChathuranga 11 years ago

Thank you Gerardo !

Gerardo Aizpuru
Gerardo Aizpuru 11 years ago

Great series :)

NuwanChathuranga
NuwanChathuranga 11 years ago

he's having a free ride ;-) let's hope so Sumukha...!

Sumukha Javagal
Sumukha Javagal 11 years ago

Wonderful spotting Nuwan..! Had never seen a male Nephila on top of female..! I hope he dint become her next meal..:-(

NuwanChathuranga
NuwanChathuranga 11 years ago

he he.. not an aggressive spider, very much cooperative :-)
thanks Fyn !!

Fyn  Kynd
Fyn Kynd 11 years ago

WOW, Your brave! I so could not do that.

NuwanChathuranga
NuwanChathuranga 11 years ago

thanks Atul & JillBlack !

JillBlack
JillBlack 11 years ago

what an awesome photo

Atul
Atul 11 years ago

lovely!

NuwanChathuranga
NuwanChathuranga 11 years ago

Thank you Harsha , Reza !

Reza Hashemizadeh
Reza Hashemizadeh 11 years ago

Spectacular find Nuwan, and very brave of you to hold it in your hand :)

Harsha Singh
Harsha Singh 11 years ago

How small is the male compared to female! That would make a great SOTD! Amazing!

NuwanChathuranga
NuwanChathuranga 11 years ago

thanks J & TKBotting !

TKBotting
TKBotting 11 years ago

Fantastic!

Jacob Gorneau
Jacob Gorneau 11 years ago

Awesome spotting! Amazing dimorphism in genders!

NuwanChathuranga
Spotted by
NuwanChathuranga

Alawwa, Sri Lanka

Spotted on Sep 15, 2012
Submitted on Sep 16, 2012

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