The ogre-face net casting spider

Asianopis subrufa also known as ogre or net casting spiders, is a family of cribellate spiders first described by Carl Ludwig Koch in 1850. It consists of stick-like elongated spiders that catch prey by stretching a web across their front legs before propelling themselves forward.

It is a nocturnal hunter, having excellent eyesight, and hunts using a silken net to capture its prey. They feed on a variety of insects like ants, beetles, crickets and other spiders.

They can vary in colour from fawn to pinkish brown or chocolate brown. Females are about 25 mm in body length, males about 22 mm. They are not dangerous to humans.

This species is often found on a few strands of web in forest, woodland and heathland, or on flat surfaces, for example on the outside of houses.