Araneus psittacinus

Fact Box Species: Araneus psittacinus (VF) Family: Araneidae (formerly Argiopidae) Body length: female: 5 mm male: about 3 mm Habitat: Builds a large orb web between branches in eucalypt forests Toxicity: Unknown but this spider seems unlikely to be hazardous to humans; its abdominal colour is variable but mostly blue and probably serves as camouflage, as do its green and white markings also

Another view Female epigynum The male?

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: None. Note that the male shown on this page may not actually be the male of Araneus psittacinus but Dr. Robert Raven of Queensland Museum believes it at least belongs to the A. psittacinus complex (i.e. a group of closely related species that have yet to be fully classified).