Tetragnatha demissa
Tetragnatha demissa is a species of spider in the family Tetragnathidae. It is native to Australia and has been introduced to several other regions, and is commonly known as Demissa long-jawed spider.
Distribution
Tetragnatha demissa is native to Australia and has been introduced to Cyprus, Tanzania, South Africa, Seychelles, and Tonga.In South Africa, the species is known from seven provinces and occurs in more than ten protected areas.
Habitat and ecology
These spiders construct orb webs that are short-lived, being taken down and digested daily. The horizontal webs are usually built in vegetation close to or over water. During late afternoons, the webs can become very thick and extensive. The spider hangs under the central hub of the web with the long front legs stretched forward. During periods of inactivity, the spider sits on plant stems with the body and legs pressed to the substrate.If these spiders fall in the water, they are able to run on the surface. The species has been sampled from the Grassland, Nama Karoo, Savanna, and Thicket biomes, at altitudes ranging from 20 to 1649 m. The species can sometimes be present in high numbers in an area.