The nursery web spider does not construct a web to catch prey; it waits on a leaf ready to pounce on passing prey. It builds a tent-like silk web to protect its young. Its colours vary from light browns to dark brown/grey. It often sits with two pairs of front legs forward and two pairs of back legs back, looking like a four-legged spider. The male spider, in an attempt not to get eaten while mating, will wrap prey in silk and carry it round until he finds a female; he will then present the wrapped gift to the female and mate while she is eating and distracted. The female will carry an egg sac around with her until the eggs are ready to hatch, when she will build the protective web that gives the spiders their name. She will stay with the young to fend off predators.