Leaf-curling Spiders

All over Sydney Olympic Park you can find spider webs with leaves hanging in them. These carefully engineered homes belong to Leaf-curling Spiders.

Leaf-curlers belong to the orb-weaving groups of spiders meaning they weave a round, spoked web to capture small flying insects. To make their leafy retreats, they drop out of the web to the ground, select a suitable leaf and tow it up into the web using a line of silk.

Less experienced young spiders start off with soft green leaves before working up to the harder dried leaves. Some Leaf-curling Spiders even use unconventional materials, such as parts of eggs or cicada shells, to create their homes.

The female spider resides inside her leafy retreat, safe from predators like parasitic wasps and birds. Unlike many other spider species, Leaf-curling Spiders form pairs, with the smaller male sitting at the opposite end of the shelter, waiting for mating opportunities. After mating, the female constructs a second curled leaf as a nursery for her eggs.

During the day, the female spider perches at the edge of her leaf with her legs on the web, "listening" for vibrations from struggling prey before rushing out for breakfast. Leaf-curling Spiders are shy and not dangerous to humans.

Keep an eye out for these fascinating creatures during your next visit to Sydney Olympic Park!