African Hermit Spider

Females reach a length of 20-25 mm. Males are typically no longer than 5 mm. The legs can be uniformly dark red or brown, or annulated. This species is strikingly sexually dimorphic, with females boasting a large, heart-shaped ophistosoma often found to be an olive-brown, cream, and/or earthy grey. Males however, are small and brown, sharing a less dramatic yet similarly shaped ophistosoma with their female counterparts. In distinguishing nephilingis cruentata from the related golden orb weaver, these spiders will have an apparent reddish-orange marking on their underside.

N. cruentata is found in tropical and subtropical Africa and several limited areas of South America (Brazil, northern Colombia and Paraguay), where it has probably been introduced by humans in the late 19th century at the latest.

In South Africa, the species inhabits multiple biomes including Grassland, Indian Ocean Coastal Belt, Forest and Savanna biomes. Nephilingis cruentata builds asymmetrical white orb-webs, often against tree trunks, walls or large rocks with a funnel-shaped retreat on the side. The spiders are frequently found under the overhangs of roofs. The webs are large, measuring 1-1.5 m in diameter.