The happy face spider, or Theridion grallator, is named for the unusual pattern found on its abdomen, which resembles a smiling face. It is found in Hawaii, where it makes its home among lush vegetation.
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Happy face spiders eat small insects such as fruit flies and young grasshoppers. They actively hunt for their prey, rather than waiting for it to stumble into a web. Happy face spiders hide on the undersides of leaves during the day and hunt at night. They do build webs, but they are small and flimsy, usually no bigger than the leaf on which they are hiding. Female happy face spiders are one of the few types of spiders that care for their young. After her eggs hatch, she catches prey and brings it back to feed her young.
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