Arbanitis robertsi

Arbanitis robertsi is a species of tube spider in the family Idiopidae found in and near rainforests in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. A mid to large sized spider which builds a tube of web that extends from the burrow. The tube is attached to rocks, tree ferns or the base of trees. Thousands of these tubes were recorded by Sid Jackson in November 1922 at the south eastern end of Wallis Lake. "Up to three feet long, and half an inch wide". Situated on damp ground, close to freshwater streams.[1][2]

Arbanitis robertsi
near Gerringong, Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Idiopidae
Genus: Arbanitis
Species:
A. robertsi
Binomial name
Arbanitis robertsi
Main & Mascord, 1974
Synonyms
  • Dyarcyops robertsi
  • Misgolas robertsi

Description

Body length of the female is 27mm, male 17 mm. The male a darker brown colour and with longer legs than the female. The burrow is usually straight, or slightly inclined with no brood shaft. The burrow usually extends around 30 cm underground. The tube above ground is usually seen around 15 to 20 cm above ground level. The tube is loosely connected to the burrow at ground level, and pulling the tube breaks it above ground and leaves the spider safe underground.

Tube spiders may live in colonies, where tubes are attached to each other, resembling organ pipes. The tubes are camoflauged with particles of earth, moss and lichen. The vibration of crawling insects on the tube is said to alert the spider to potential prey.[3][4] Prey is caught at the opening of the tube, including moths, beetles and other crawling insects.[2]

Egg sac

The egg sac is 24 mm x 15 mm, rectangular in shape, constructed of white silk, secured within the burrow by the female. Eggs around 50 in number, a golden yellow colour, non glutinous.[2]

References
  1. McKeown, Keith C. (1952). Australian Spiders. Australian Museum: Sirius Books. p. 139.
  2. Australian Spiders in Colour - Ramon Mascord. 1970 SBN 589 07065 7, page 12
  3. "Tube Spiders". Australian Museum. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  4. "Arbanitis robertsi". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
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