New Zealand Sheetweb Spider, Bush Spider
Cambridgea foliata
Desidae (Intertidal and Sheetweb Spiders), Order Araneae. Characterized by building large, horizontal sheet webs.
Physical Description
A robust spider with a distinctive oval abdomen and a strong, somewhat flattened cephalothorax. The abdomen is velvety with fine hairs, while the cephalothorax often shows a radiating pattern of darker grooves. Males have noticeably longer legs and highly prominent, enlarged pedipalps used for mating.
Size Estimate
Body length 15-25mm; leg span can reach up to 100-120mm in mature males. This specimen appears to be an adult male based on the large pedipalps.
Coloration & Markings
Tawny brown to grayish-brown base. The cephalothorax features dark radial lines reaching toward the center. The abdomen often has a faint folium (leaf-like) pattern or chevrons. Legs are dark, occasionally with subtle banding or mottling.
Web Type
Large, horizontal sheet web, often 0.5 to 1 meter across. These webs are not sticky; they rely on a 'knockdown' superstructure of vertical silk lines that trip flying insects into the sheet below.
Eye Arrangement
8 eyes in two rows of four. The arrangement is typical of the Desidae family, providing a wide field of view to detect vibrations and movement across the large sheet web.
Leg Characteristics
Long, powerful legs, particularly the first and second pairs. They are covered in fine sensory hairs and small spines. In males, the legs are significantly longer relative to the body than in females.
Venom & Safety Information
Venom Information
Possesses venom used to immobilize insect prey. The venom is not considered dangerous to humans. It is primarily protein-based and localized in its action.
Medical Significance
Low medical significance. Bites are rare and usually only occur if the spider is handled roughly. Symptoms are typically limited to mild local pain, redness, or swelling, similar to a bee sting.
Safety Recommendations
If found indoors, they can be safely relocated using the 'cup and cardboard' method. Wear gardening gloves if you are nervous about handling them. There is no need for chemical control; they are beneficial roommates for pest management.
Habitat & Behavior
Habitat & Range
Endemic to New Zealand. Found throughout the North and South Islands in native forests, gardens, and shrublands. They often build webs across gaps in vegetation or against tree trunks and stone walls.
Behavior & Temperament
Generally shy and reclusive, staying in a silk retreat at the edge of the web during the day. They are active hunters at night. While they can appear intimidating due to their size, they are not aggressive and prefer to retreat unless cornered.
Diet & Prey
Generalist predators. They eat a variety of flying and crawling insects including moths, flies, beetles, and occasionally small cicadas that fall into their sheet webs.
Seasonal Activity
Active year-round but most visible in late summer and autumn (January–May) when males wander for mates and webs reach their maximum size.
Description
The New Zealand Sheetweb Spider is one of the country's most impressive arachnids. Known for constructing massive, non-sticky horizontal webs that look like silk carpets in the forest, these spiders are vital nocturnal predators. The males, like the one pictured, are frequently spotted wandering away from webs during mating season, often startling homeowners with their large size and prominent palps.
Key Features
Large size, horizontal sheet web (in situ), prominent pedipalps in males, and a characteristic radiating pattern on the cephalothorax.
Similar Species
Often confused with Vagrant Spiders (Uliodon spp.) which do not build webs and have a more 'velvety' uniform appearance, or the Cave Spiders (Spelungula spp.) which are much larger and found in specific cave environments.
Life Cycle
Females produce a white, silken egg sac often suspended near the web retreat. Spiderlings disperse via ballooning. Males mature and wander in search of females during late summer and autumn, which is when they are most frequently encountered.
Ecological Importance
Crucial for controlling forest and garden insect populations. They act as a major food source for native birds like the Tochī and various lizard species.
Conservation Status
Not formally assessed but considered widespread and common throughout its range. Not currently threatened.
Interesting Facts
Despite the massive size of their webs, they do not use glue. Instead, the silk is extremely fine and woven into a dense mesh that entangles the hooked feet of insects. They are one of the largest web-building spiders in New Zealand.
Photography Tips
Photograph from directly above (dorsal view) to capture the cephalothorax pattern. Use a macro lens or 'Portrait' mode to highlight the texture of the abdomen and the structure of the pedipalps.
Identified: 2026-03-15T18:24:20.083948