Template:POTD/2020-05-18
Tree trunk spiders are members of the family Hersiliidae, native to tropical and subtropical parts of the world. Ranging from 10 to 18 mm (0.4 to 0.7 in) in length, they have two prominent spinnerets that are almost as long as their abdomen, earning them another nickname, the "two-tailed spiders".
This picture shows a tree trunk spider of the genus Hersilia, photographed in Kadavoor in the Indian state of Kerala, capturing a cicada. The spider lies in wait on a tree for an insect to land on the trunk. Pouncing on its prey, it uses its spinnerets to wrap it in silk. When the insect is immobilised, the spider bites through the shroud before sucking out the insect's juices.Photograph credit: Jeevan Jose