Giant Golden Orbweaver (Nephila pilipes)

The Northern Golden Orb Weaver or Giant Golden Orb Weaver^[1] (Nephila pilipes) is a species of golden orb-web spider. It can be found in Japan, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Philippines, Sri Lanka, India, and Papua New Guinea. It is commonly found in primary and secondary forests and gardens. Females are large and grow to a body size of 30–50 mm (overall size up to 20 cm), with males growing to 5–6 mm. It is one of the biggest spiders in the world.

The Nephila pilipes' golden web is vertical with a fine irregular mesh and not symmetrical, with the hub usually nearer the top.^[1] Rather than egg sacks being hung in the web, a pit is dug which is then covered with plant debris or soil.

The first, second and fourth pairs of legs of juvenile females have dense hairy brushes, but as the spider matures these brushes disappear.

Subspecies

• Nephila pilipes annulipes Thorell, 1881 – (Indonesia)
• Nephila pilipes flavornata Merian, 1911 – (Sulawesi)
• Nephila pilipes hasselti (Doleschall, 1859) – (Java)
• Nephila pilipes jalorensis (Simon, 1901) – (India)
• Nephila pilipes lauterbachi (Dahl, 1912) – (New Guinea)
• Nephila pilipes malagassa (Strand, 1907) – (Madagascar)
• Nephila pilipes novaeguineae (Strand, 1906) – (New Guinea)
• Nephila pilipes piscatorum Vis, 1911 – (Queensland)
• Nephila pilipes walckenaeri (Doleschall, 1857) – (Java)

Different views & aspects

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  Mating Nephila pilipes in Kaeng Krachan National Park, Thailand.

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  Northern Queensland, Australia

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  Nephila pilipes jalorensis in Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary, India.

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  Nephila pilipes jalorensis in Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary, India.

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  Nephila pilipes in Noosa Heads, Queensland Australia

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  Juvenile Nephila pilipes

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  Dorsal side of adult female Nephila pilipes in Taiwan.

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  Nephila pilipes in Yangmingshan National Park, Taiwan.

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  Nephila pilipes female at Bhimbetka, Raisen district, Madhya Pradesh, India.

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  Female at Idukki, Kerala.

Notes

References

• A Guide to Common Singapore Spiders
• Colourful Orb-Weaving Spiders
• Nephila of Southern Africa
• Golden Orb web-spiders in south Thailand

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