Poecilopachys australasia

Poecilopachys australasia, commonly known as the Two-spined Spider, is an orb-weaving spider introduced from Australia and recorded in New Zealand since the 1970s. Adult females are small but distinctive, with a broad abdomen marked by two pale spines.

This species is mainly active at night, when it builds a circular orb web to catch flying insects. During the day, females often rest on the underside of leaves, where their shape and colour help look a little like bird poo.

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