The brown button spider:
Family Theridiidae.
Average body length 8 - 14 mm (female) 3 mm (male). Legspan up to 40 mm. Long medium thick legs.
Identification: Light cream to black colour. Ball shaped abdomen with a characteristic orange hour glass on the underside. Long pointed legs.
Habitat: Buildings, stones, rocks, shrubs, low growing vegetation, grass and rotten stumps. Inside human dwellings.
Customs: Alert. Uses a comb to cast a strand of web to catch its prey. It then spins its prey into a cocoon before giving it a lethal bite.
Venom: Neurotoxin that causes intense local pain. Not deadly to humans.
Web: Not neat with a hiding place on the one side.
Food: Insects.
Reproduction: Female lays prickly egg sacks attached to the web.
Similar species: False button spider, black button spider.
References: Internet web sites. SASOL field guide to Spiders and Scorpions of South Africa.
The cache:
Painted plastic 125 ml cylindrical container. Space for one or two small trade items. Pencil and logbook provided. The cache is inside the Panaroma Cemetary grounds. Gates are locked at night. You might draw attention as the cache is in an open area of the cemetary, so have an excuse ready if you are approached by someone. Taking photographs perhaps?