The female is a very large spider with lengths up to 20cm reported. She is often described as "the size of a human hand". The male is about 1/5 the size of the female spider and is frequently oriented above and perpendicular to the female who hangs upside down. In some species, the female will eat the male, but this is by no means a common occurrence. In the species that have been studied, mating occurs while the female is fresh from her last molt; this mating generally involves the dominant male which has been with the female for several days prior to the final molt. Later matings may occur while the female is eating. The role of male precedence (if being first increases the number of fertilized eggs) is uncertain in this species, however female genital structure suggests that first males have an advantage
Golden silk orb-weaver
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