Community identification
Bird poo spider
Phrynarachne decipiens
- Order & Family
- Araneae: Thomisidae (Crab Spiders)
- Size
- Females up to 13mm; males much smaller at approx 2mm.
Natural Habitat
Rainforests and gardens, usually found on the upper surface of green leaves.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivore. It feeds on insects, particularly flies, that are attracted to what they believe is animal waste.
Behavior Patterns
An expert in aggressive mimicry, it sits motionless on a web platform that looks like a splash of bird droppings. It even produces a smell similar to excrement to lure prey.
Risks & Benefits
No significant risk to humans as they are non-aggressive. Beneficial to ecosystems as biological pest control for various flying insects.