Cornfield Bolas Spider

Mastophora hutchinsoni, also known as the American bolas spider, is a species of orb weaver in the genus Mastophora. The genus is distributed extensively throughout various subtropical geographical areas including Australia, South Africa, Oriental Asia, and the Americas and is not found in Europe. The hunting behavior of adult female M. hutchinsoni is unusual because they are bolas spiders. They mimic moth pheromones to attract male moths, and female M. hutchinsoni have evolved to alter their chemical release to target different moths. They then capture their prey with a sticky drop on the end of a silk line, resembling a bolas.

From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Is it venomous or poisonous?

We have no record of Cornfield Bolas Spider being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.

Easily confused with

• Mastophora cornigera
• Cyrtarachne ixoides
• Mastophora phrynosoma
• Celaenia excavata
• Cyrtarachne bufo
• Cyrtarachne nagasakiensis

Classification

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Arachnida

Order

Araneae

Family

Araneidae

Genus

Mastophora

Species

Mastophora hutchinsoni

More species