Dusky curtain web spider (Namirea planipes)

Dusky curtain web spiders specialise in making extensive webs and a glance at the web can make it seem like there's a massive spider. Their large webs are constructed to capture one specific type of prey; snails. The large amounts of silk are placed everywhere to act as a trip wire for snails as the larger area they cover, the higher chance of finding a snail. When the spider detects prey, they run out at relative high speed and slather the prey in silk from their uncommonly long spinnerets. these spiders construct their webs in embankments adjacent to creeks as they prefer the higher humidity. Like most other curtain webs, Namirea planipes don't dig much if not at all but prefer using logs, rocks and in some cases man made structures. they can have 2 entrances and even multiple chambers for different purposes (egg incubating, moulting, hiding chamber, etc). They are common throughout South East Queensland but are concentrated to higher elevations such as Mt Coot-Tha.

Dusky curtain webs don't grow too large, maxing out at around 50mm leg span and 25mm body length. Their long spinnerets that are used for their web construction and hunting can even reach the size of their abdomen in some cases. The cephalothorax (head) is covered in fine golden hairs and their abdomen is brown grey and un-patterned. These spiders have setae or hair spines on their legs along side normal hair. These spiders lack the ability to climb glass and other smooth surfaces which is fortunate as they can be quite speedy when they want to be. The males have around the same leg-span as the females with half the body length.

This species lays eggs protected in smooth silk bags called egg sacs which are held in the females fangs for the duration of incubation. These egg sacs are around 5mm diameter but can be a little bigger in some cases. The eggs held within are much smaller with them being merely 50µm in diameter. each egg sac can hold anywhere between 20 and 200 eggs. the egg hatching rate is around 80% but many external factors can drastically alter this. The females hold the egg sac in their fangs and occasionally secure it to the floor