In World of the Insect at the Cincinnati Zoo.
The impressive golden silk spider (Nephila madagascariensis) builds a large orb web to trap small flying and jumping animals. Victims are quickly wrapped in silk, subdued with a venomous bite, and then eaten. The male is relatively tiny (half-inch leg span) and short lived. Somewhat like a parasite, he feeds on small prey captured in his much larger mate’s web.
Facts[]
- Where to see them: Madagascar
- Lifespan: 6 months
- Ecological Role: Predator
- Habitat: Tropical rainforest
- Diet: Insects and small frogs