Rectangular capture net op Deinopsis
The net-casting spider is a common spider and is also often seen in documentaries because of its unique way of catching prey. The spider positions itself, head down, and grasps the rectangular capture net with its four front legs. If a walking insect is detected, the net is pushed over the victim that gets ensnared. Flying insects, like moths, are caught by flicking the web backwards.
The web is made of non-sticky cribellate (woolly) silk. Insects gets entangled in the wooly structure
The spider relies heavily on its eye-sight. The eyes are arranged in three rows. Two of her eight eyes are extremely large.
The spider is active during the night and during the day she remains camouflaged on a tree bark. Her body length varies between 1.5 and 2.5 cm and they are light rusty brown coloured.
Two genera belong to this family, Deinopsis with six species and Avella (=Menneus) with six species.
