Can this spider fly? Australian native animal turns up in New Zealand after being BLOWN 2,100kms on the wind

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Can this spider fly? Australian native animal turns up in New Zealand after being BLOWN 2,100kms on the wind

Neville Bibby found a female golden orb spider at his New Zealand home
Mr Bibby said the spider’s size is impressive and is the span of his hand
It is believed the spider rode wind currents across the Tasman Sea
So far this year six golden orb spiders have been reported in New Zealand

By BRIANNE TOLJ FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

A native Australian spider has been spotted 2,000kms away from home across the Tasman Sea in New Zealand after gliding on wind currents.
Neville Bibby, from Mapua, discovered a female golden orb spider last week perched on her web under the pergola at his home, munching on wasps from a nearby nest, according to Stuff.co.nz.
‘She has a magnificent web,’ Mr Bibby said. ‘I can see why they call it a golden orb web spider – the web in sunlight is quite a golden colour.’

Since the Bibby family first spotted the large golden orb, they have watched her catch bumble bees, paper wasps and honey bees but Mr Bibby said it wasn’t just her strong, glimmering web that impressed him.

‘It’s quite spectacular, the size of her,’ Mr Bibby said. ‘She’s bigger than the span of my hand.’
The body of golden orb spiders can grow up to five centimeters but that does not include their expansive legspan, according to Stuff….More Here

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Can this spider fly? Australian native animal turns up in New Zealand after being BLOWN 2,100kms on the wind