A mother of two comes from Sutherland Shire in Sydney's south stunned after spotting peculiar-looking pods suspended from the leaves of a palm tree in her backyard. She later discovered that these pods were filled with spiders.
Ashlee captured photographs of the six pear-shaped sacks and shared them on Facebook, seeking to answer the truth behind them.
Social media users are fascinated by Ashlee's discovery and are discussing the six pear-shaped sacks.
One person said: These are magnificent spiders. Let them be and enjoy them. I would love them in my yard.
A second commented: I don't mind the odd spider but 6 pods, 600 spiders in each??????????????? Yeah nah that tree (and the spiders) is goooooooooone.
A third wrote: Abandoned weaver-birds nests. Nothing to get a twist about. The spiders are only squatting in an abandoned home and the only difference in their behavior and ours is the fact they don't trash the place before they leave, unlike us humans.
Someone else said: The birds will eat most of them, let them be.
Another added: If those nests are made (weaved) with fibers, they could be abandoned nests by weaver birds. Most weaver birds weave their nests with fibers on a palm leaf branch.
The spiders in question belong to the species known as the Magnificent Spider, which is commonly found along Australia's eastern coast and inhabits trees and forests.
They are part of a group of Bolas spiders known for producing large, brown sacs that can measure up to approximately five centimeters in length.
These spiders pose no harm to humans and are primarily active during the nighttime when they hunt for prey.
According to information from the Australian Museum, these spiders use the silk they produce to ensnare moths for food.
As detailed on the Australian Museum website, the Magnificent Spider is described as follows:
'It is white with two bright yellow knobs on its abdomen, and a number of salmon-colored spots and blotches as well,'
'The body and limbs are covered with long fine hairs, especially the forelegs'.
