Gasteracantha fornicata (northern jewelled spider) is a species of spiny orb-weavers (family Araneidae) found in Queensland Australia.

G. fornicata is known for its female spiders that have a stark banded pattern along its dorsal side, with yellow or white stripes contrasting its dark-coloured body.

The wide cephalothorax structure of Gasteracantha may prevent it from being as mobile compared to spiders of similar size.

[5] Like other spiny spiders, Gasteracantha fornicata has a hard exoskeleton with spines along the dorsal side for predatorial protection.

Changes in light exposure of brighter forest clearings and cloudier sky overhang regions, create microhabitats for Gasteracantha fornicata.

A diverse range of spiders within this family have been shown to adorn their webs with decorations like Gasteracantha fornicata (seventy-eight species across twenty -two genera).

Variations in cloud coverage and sunny clearing within the habitat have been found to impact the colouration frequencies of female spiders.

[9] Gasteracantha fornicata orients itself and its web to take advantage of light and dark patches in the vegetation.

[6] The light and dark bands mimic the environment and serve to attract prey as a part of the colour-as-prey-attraction hypothesis.

Prey typically mistaken the light patches as forager or mating sites, serving as a strategy for Gasteracantha fornicata.

[6][16][17] The colouration of Gasteracantha fornicata has also been shown to take advantage of prey visual systems of hymenopterans and dipterans.

It has been shown that hiding and covering the distinctive stripes of Gasteracantha fornicata have contributed to diminished prey acquisition.

[18] Gasteracantha fornicata creates a circular "orb" shaped web, typical of the family Araneidae.

[10] These lures have been hypothesized to visually attract prey as a "sensory trap";[9] however, presence of web decoration has not been attributed to better feeding success.

[10] This hypothesis has also been put into question because Gasteracantha build their webs in already sheltered areas in shrubs and rainforest understory, regions that are unlikely to be disrupted by larger predators.

While decorations help protect destruction from other creatures, because of the rainforest habitat, webs are frequently rendered ineffective during extended rainstorm periods.

[9] In addition, no evidence has found that Gasteracantha fornicata makes assumptions of optimal foraging sites when building their webs.

After its series of transitions, its final adult form has a highly sclerotized skeleton and namesake spinal projections.

[14]Gasteracantha fornicata has been shown to mimic spatial, spectral, and symmetric patterns of local flowers to intercept prey at their webs.