GOLDEN ORB-WEAVERS | A Guide to Australian Spiders

Welcome to another episode of the Guide to Australian Spiders. This one will be all about the enormous Golden Orb-weavers from the genera Nephila and Trichonephila. These include some of the biggest web-spinning spiders in the world, and they are truly a sight to behold!
References:
www.sciencedirect.com/science...
academic.oup.com/sysbio/artic...
Music:
Teller of the Tales by Kevin MacLeod
Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song...
License: filmmusic.io/standard-license
Midnight Tale by Kevin MacLeod
Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song...
License: filmmusic.io/standard-license
Suonatore di Liuto by Kevin MacLeod
Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song...
License: filmmusic.io/standard-license
Village Ambiance by Alexander Nakarada
Link: filmmusic.io/song/6586-villag...
License: creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

[@TheWildlifeBrothers]

Golden orb weavers are such impressive spiders, and I can confidently say that this video doubled my knowledge about their diversity and taxonomy. As usual your facts and knowledge are absolutely incredible, and the nonchalant way you talk about their ecology is very enjoyable to listen to. They remind me of the Trichonephila clavipes that we get back in the US, large but totally docile and inoffensive. Great work! - Harrison and Evan

[@BreadApologist]

The “Obi wan spider” cause most of the time id see em is suddenly right in front of me all “Hello there.”.

[@franciscodeasismoraleslagu9803]

This man is enlightening me, and showing me that Australia has many underrated arachnids due to the pressence of the funnel webs and redbacks. I hope to see this channel thrive in some near future keep up the work

[@BugsandBiology]

Funnel-webs and redbacks certainly do seem to hog the spotlight, along with huntsmen.

[@bugsmetropolis]

Love your content! Keep going!

[@BlueyChandler]

Good content. I remember growing up in Brisbane, and this spider in particular, although harmless as you say, created a level of fear in me as a young bloke. That fear was usually associated from walking into one of it's webs, the strength of it like wire, and it's colouration was usually enough to keep me away.

[@razzaus1570]

I just love watching them set up their massive web every evening, but they always have it packed up and stored away by the next morning. Very hard working spiders.

[@andregonsalvez9244]

Great 👍 show as usual ! These are beautiful looking spiders and pretty docile.

[@Squid-demon_confirmed]

1:16 I honestly want to see something like that outside in real life. I love that I finally got recommended this video! 😁

[@tallensmith8948]

this is awesome thanks for the video

[@BugsandBiology]

Glad you liked it! Gotta start doing more episodes for the guide.

[@LunarShimmer]

7:06 MAN! check out THOSE boxing gloves! my man is ready

[@funeralgothatoo5814]

Thanks for all the knowledge you are sharing. I can't get enough of it. I also love that you create your own illustrations. You should compile them all into a Spiders of Australia poster one day. Now I must share a spidery story... I remember a while back we had a bit of a spider boom here in Melbourne. It was around 2011 I think. SO MANY SPIDERS. Night time walks outside the house and around the garden were a glorious garden orb weaver minefield. A torch was essential to avoid them. They were the largest webs I've ever seen from those little guys. Some spanned 4m between the trees in the lawn Wolf spiders were running everywhere on the paving. Huntsmans chilling on the pine retaining walls. And every single gap in the block retaining walls were occupied by black house spiders. I've never seen such a spider number explosion since. It was fantastic. Now that summer also was the one time I saw what I now realise must have been a Trichonephila edulis. I saw it high up in a web in a eucalyptus, silhouetted against the sunset sky. It was impressively large, especially since it was a good distance high from ground level. At the time I had much less knowledge about spiders. But it looked distinctly Golden Orb Weaver from the size and shape. I thought that's impossible, since I was then under the impression they were a northern/tropical spider. So here I am happy to learn I wasn't crazy and that spider was indeed what I thought it was! Definately not a common suburban sight in Melbourne (and I live near a national park). I've not seen one since, but I plan to do a walk in said park to see if I can spot one as there are reported sightings. Also during the walk it had in my area when I spotted the Trichonephila edulis, further evidence of said spider boom; many garden orb weavers making a gauntlet of webs across a 20m section of the footpath. Yet another exciting yet out of the ordinary sight to behold for this part of urbanized Australia.

[@BugsandBiology]

Big swarms of orb-weavers make for such impressive sights. At this point, I’ve seen a fair few, but they never cease to amaze me. I do plan on making posters using my drawings. Maybe starting off with huntsmen of Australia or something like that.

[@DodderingOldMan]

Where I used to live there was a stand of trees that was basically just a huge golden orb weaver city. It was about 5 metres wide by 30 metres long, and every branch was festooned with webs. It was really fascinating to observe. Sadly it was bulldozed to make way for a highway upgrade some years ago.

[@BugsandBiology]

Yeah I’ve seen a couple big colonies like that. Absolutely amazing sights to behold. Used to be a big cluster over the path on the way to school; so many people would freak out walking under it.

[@andrewsmallacombe9468]

Loved the content. I live in Japan, where we have some of the golden orb weaver's relatives. I once found a female that had survived the winter!

[@dennismenting963]

"They are as useless as a shoeshop in the Shire." Bro that one is really underrated man. 😂

[@BugsandBiology]

Glad someone got the reference!

[@elismightyplays1282]

@@BugsandBiology I had a laugh aswell and then sent it to my friend hahaha

[@jizabel66]

Very interesting species of spider. I have a few of them in my back yard including the common orb weavers in North Texas. I tried not to run into their webs since they seem to build near the forest lol

[@BugsandBiology]

The webs can be hard to avoid for sure, especially at night.

[@bigbarraful]

These seem to be in plague proportions on the east coast of Australia atm. Where you find one, you find hundreds.

[@hilliard665]

What are the chances of spider species cross breeding? I know so little, but im very familiar with the coastal variety, but ive seen them much larger then 35mm and not exaggerating maybe up to 60mm + body length. I could just be wrong but i feel ive seen them even larger then that. Love this channel im bingeing everything

[@vergadain]

Thanks B&B for the video. What’s the wet patch she appears to be depositing on your hand from what appears to be the underside of her head as she moves, somewhere between 2mins,55 seconds and 3 minute mark? It looks like water.

[@hilliard665]

Morning mate, I'm a gardener and have had experiences where I've had an overwhelming need to touch a golden Ord weaver, I haven't dared yet, but would you think it's a bad idea? I would be gentle not to hurt the little fella ofcourse

[@mikeythemutt8460]

Trichonephila clavipes is pretty common here in Florida. I leave them alone as I'm not a fan of spiders on my person, but they're super cool to look at in nature. There's a park near Cocoa Beach where there seemed to be one in every tree. I've always wanted them in my backyard as a way to kill mosquitos.

[@somedude8392]

The nephila usually puts it's webs on electricity lines which is why here in Philippines we call them gagambang kuryente

[@elomnusk]

hahahahahaha omg

[@TomThomas005]

Does gagambang kuryente mean electric spider?

[@somedude8392]

@@TomThomas005 yes

[@angemapu7184]

I have one. Its the 2nd ive had. Very clever web weavers. I can still go in and out my laundry door with out disturbing her. She's beautiful. She's Been here for 3 weeks. ❤❤

[@hilliard665]

These are my favourite spider 😊

[@domari9459]

This has been one of my favorite spiders because the female weaves most amazing elaborate web.

[@fringelilyfringelily391]

I remember that they were quite common in Walgett NSW ... in NW NSW, far from the coast ... probably a Trichonephila species ... the webs were sometimes about 2 metres wide and when you walked into them, they felt like fishing line.

[@BugsandBiology]

That far inland, they’d probably be Trichonephila edulis.

[@fringelilyfringelily391]

@@BugsandBiology Thank you.

[@windowsnt4workstaion]

I wish I had them here :(

[@cds3703]

are you gonna make videos on every spider family like white tails or wolf spiders?

[@BugsandBiology]

Every major family in the future, and will try to cover as many obscure ones as possible.

[@shaleeandrews6560]

Hey just found you thanks to ants Canada! And I thought our orb weavers in oregon got big!!

[@BugsandBiology]

Thanks! How’d you find out from AC though? Did he mention me or something?

[@shaleeandrews6560]

@@BugsandBiology another comment on a post mentioned you!

[@jtanimations2194]

These guys are cute as hell, honestly could be good pets

[@BugsandBiology]

They would, except for space requirements. To be honest, I wouldn’t even bother with an enclosure if I ever kept orb weavers. Also, babies are apparently really hard to raise.

[@jtanimations2194]

@@BugsandBiology ah yeah.....and you'd constanrly try not to run into a net everyday.....yeah. probably good in a garden or garage or sth

[@kosmokat111]

1:00 Ok idk if that's your footage, but if it is, what lens are you using that's giving you square bokeh? I don't think I've ever seen that before

[@BugsandBiology]

That is my footage, as is anything without credit given. I’ll check what type of video camera I have when I get home. But I know it’s nothing out of the ordinary.

[@kosmokat111]

@@BugsandBiology ye I've been a long enough viewer to suspect it was urs just from no credit being given lol

[@TheStef71]

when i used to live in black rock in Victoria , i was only about one street away from the beach. I was living with my older sister and in a bungarlow and had too go outside to use the toilet, and would nearly on a nightly basis walk right into there big webs, also walking too and from the drive way coming home from the pub often very pissed. lol I would have then in my hair and stuck on my cloths , and never once bitten ! lol

[@michaelcaballero1346]

I'm very interested in learning more about the spiders and their sizes, I would like to have a few of spiders as pet. 🕸️🕸️🕸️🕸️🕸️

[@P.ilhaformosatherium]

Gentle giants (not that big) We also have a far share of Nephilinae in Taiwan

[@MrMeow-dk2tx]

I saw someone call orb weavers, "Spiders with leggings" in a thumbnail... I hate that they're right, and also I need to see that concept in art now lol

[@tothesky8799]

Your channel is a gem in a sea of trash. Excellent content!👍

[@pennystreet8183]

I’m in Perth wa. I had a beautiful girl like the one that you had on your hand at the end. Every evening I would go outside and watch her cleaning herself. Her web and catching her dinner. I felt cheated after having her for only a year before she died. RIP my beautiful Goldie

[@BugsandBiology]

They only live for a year or so anyway, so you probably had her for her full lifespan.

[@pennystreet8183]

@@BugsandBiology After she laid her egg sac. I could see she was “buggered”. I scooped her up carefully with the broom and put her back on her web and caught a moth for her. After a few months she laid another one but sadly I couldn’t help her. So I learnt after you said that sometimes they can lay the second sac. I think it’s sad that these beautiful creatures don’t have a long life span Keep up the good work. I’m learning lots 🙂

[@Samuraislash600]

Spoiders

[@stevo6969]

Beautiful spiders, but I still hate them.

[@lul.gianni]

This spider tried to sneak up on me crawlimg down from my ceiling. Scared the shit outta me