''Nephila antipodiana'', also known as the batik golden web spider,
is a species of
golden orb-web spider discovered in 1841 by
Charles Athanase Walckenaer.
The species is found throughout Australia, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. The spider's silk contains a
pyrrolidine alkaloid
Alkaloids are a class of basic, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Some synthetic compounds of similar ...
which serves as a chemical repellent to keep ants away from the spider's web.
References
Araneidae
Spiders of Australia
Spiders of China
Spiders described in 1841
{{Araneidae-stub