They are cryptically coloured in variegated shades of cream, orange, green, brown, grey and black.

They are quick and difficult to capture as they disappear into the narrowest of crevices.

The Hersiliidae is a family of spiders noted for their elongated posterior lateral spinnerets which can be as long as the abdomen.

Photo Left : Distinctive elongate lateral spinnerets used in prey capture by swaying them over the victim thus wrapping the victim in silk.

The inner edge of these spinnerets is lined with silk-producing tubules (spine-like spigots).
 

Hersilia is found in trees.

Image Above : Normal eye view of the surface of a tree in a
rain forest in Malaysia. Very few will notice a living creature at
the middle of the image.

Image Right : A close up view of the tree spider sitting right at the
middle of the tree trunk

Hersiliids are small to medium (4.5-12.5mm body length) dorso-ventrally flattened spiders, especially the arboreal genera.
 

This female is 10mm including the 2 tails.

Without the tails the net body length is 5mm

The carapace is oval with the 8 eyes situated in two recurved rows, on a raised hump (tubercle).

The anterior median eyes are largest.