Bug Identifier
Bird Dropping Spider
Community identification

Bird Dropping Spider

Celaenia excavata

Order & Family
Araneae, Araneidae
Size
Females 12-15 mm, Males much smaller at 2-3 mm
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

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