Dew Drop Spider: Argyrodes antipodianus

Macro image of Dew Drop Spider
3 mm in length
Conical Silvery abdomen
Black line along the dorsum
Banded black legs
Not possible to tell the sex from the picture.

Location: Big Swamp Wildlife Park, Bunbury

Season: Late Winter, Early Spring

Class: Arachnida 

Order: Araneomorphae 

Family: Theridiidae 

Genus: Argyrodes 

A. antipodianus

This little spider is easily identified by the silver coloured conically shaped abdomen. There is a black stripe running along the dorsum. These morphological characteristics give this spider the appearance of a shiny dew drop, hence the name. The dew drop shape helps it procure food. It disguises itself as a dew drop and occupies the web of other spiders and steals their prey. It is a kleptoparasite. It only weaves a weak web for itself. It usually occupies the web of Orb Weavers and feed on the prey caught by the Orb Weavers. It also sometimes eats the host spider when it is incapacitated during moulting.

Dew Drop Spiders are found all over the world and Australia.

Reference: Atlas Of Living Australia