Wood Spider

Learn About the Wood Spider

The giant wood spider (nephila maculata) can be found from Japan all the way down to Australia and West to India. In parts of Papua New Guinea tribespeople consider it a tasty snack. In Japan they're called "O-jyorou gumo", "gumo" meaning spider, "O" meaning big and "jyorou" meaning "femme fatale". The large yellow spots under the legs are a distinguishing characteristic of this species.

• The Giant Wood Spider eats mostly small insects and sometimes part's of dead animals. It catches its prey with its spider web and eats them after they are dead. The Giant Wood Spider grows between four and six inches long, and one through two inches wide. It is mainly black and has yellow spots on it.