Argyrodes antipodianus
Dewdrop Spider Identification in Australia
Tiny silver-backed comb-footed spider that lives around orb-weaver webs and steals small prey from the host web.
Usually low riskDewdrop spiders are very small Australian comb-footed spiders most often noticed as bright silver or dark-and-silver specks on the edge of larger orb-weaver webs. Argyrodes antipodianus is useful to compare when the spider is tiny, reflective and sitting in or near a golden orb-weaver or other round web rather than building a large web of its own.
Quick identification
- Very small spider, with females only a few millimetres long
- Silvery or dewdrop-like reflective abdomen, sometimes with dark patches
- Usually found on the edge of a larger orb-weaver web rather than in a separate capture web
- Steals small prey from host spiders such as golden orb-weavers
What to check next
Check whether the spider is tiny and sitting around a larger orb-weaver web. Look for a reflective silver abdomen and compare with silver orb-weavers, golden orb-weavers and tiny house cobweb spiders if the photo is not close enough.
When to seek medical help
This spider is not usually considered dangerous. Avoid handling it and seek medical advice for severe pain, allergic symptoms, infection signs, spreading symptoms or uncertainty after any bite.
Where it is usually seen
Edges of large orb-weaver webs, garden shrubs, coastal bushland, forest edges and planted areas, especially where golden orb-weavers and other large orb-weaving spiders are present in south-western, southern and eastern Australia.