
Community identification
Bird Dropping Spider
Celaenia excavata
- Order & Family
- Araneae, Araneidae
- Size
- Females 12-15 mm, Males much smaller at 2-3 mm
Natural Habitat
Found in gardens and forests, often on leaves of citrus trees or other foliage
Diet & Feeding
Primarily nocturnal moths which it lures using chemical mimicry of moth pheromones
Behavior Patterns
Diurnal mimicry of bird droppings to avoid predators; sits motionless during the day and hunts at night
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans; beneficial to the ecosystem as it controls various moth populations