Uloborus plumipes

Garden center spider
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Uloboridae
Genus: Uloborus
Species:
U. plumipes
Binomial name
Uloborus plumipes
Lucas, 1846
Synonyms
  • Orithya gnava
  • Orithya gnavus
  • Uloborus costae
  • Uloborus gnavus
  • Uloborus niloticus
  • Uloborus niveivestis
  • Uloborus pictiventris
  • Uloborus signatus

Uloborus plumipes is a species of Old World cribellate spider in the family Uloboridae. Common names include the feather-legged lace weaver and the garden centre spider, the latter name being due to its frequent occurrence of this spider in garden centres. The species name is derived from the Latin pluma "feather" and pes "foot".

Females grow up to 10 mm. They lack venom glands, and are therefore non-venomous. A stabilimentum is sometimes present. Pattern and colouration is quite variable. In contrast to Uloborus walckenaerius, it has distinct tufts of hairs on the front legs. They are well-camouflaged as they hang upside down motionlessly in their horizontal webs. Young spiders look like dead insects and are thus hard to find on a web. The empty egg sac can often be seen attached to house plants. It is flattish, papery and brown and about 0.5 cm long, with the shape of a dried holly leaf.