Metepeira - gone but not forgotten
Jun 19, 2012 12:05:30 #
Last week I posted several photos of Metepeira labyrinthea, an orb weaver species that likes to hide beneath a leafy cloister in the center of its web. This morning I happened by THE SAME WEB on my morning walk. To my surprise, though the builder of the web was still there, she was now joined by another spider - an entirely different species - which had attacked Metepeira, killed it, and partially wrapped it in silk - to be fed on later.
The envader is in the genus Argyrodes - probably A. trigonum. This species, known as a commensal that inhabits other spidersÂ’ webs, is also a predator that will often kill and feed on the original web maker.
Here are a few photos. In some, you can see the remains of the female Metepeira that built the web.
The envader is in the genus Argyrodes - probably A. trigonum. This species, known as a commensal that inhabits other spidersÂ’ webs, is also a predator that will often kill and feed on the original web maker.
Here are a few photos. In some, you can see the remains of the female Metepeira that built the web.
Jun 19, 2012 13:20:16 #
Jun 19, 2012 16:05:46 #
Jun 20, 2012 13:27:55 #
glojo
Loc: South Devon, England
gym wrote:
Hi Gym,Last week I posted several photos of Metepeira lab... (show quote)
I am as thick as three short planks and am best at understanding words that contain four letters or less.
From what you are saying there is a story behind these spooky looking pictures so I can see a 'normal' looking spider that starts off looking in the peak of health but it looks like they end up with a nice new silk coat which I am guessing is their very own death shroud?
The thing with the World's biggest zit.... Is that a living creature and is there another spider with the longest legs in the whole World hiding by it? Or is that zit thing with the sausage with a tiny stinger also dead? Apologies for being at the bottom of the class, John
Jun 20, 2012 15:00:25 #
Most web spiders like to hang upside down, as does this one. Here is how your brain wants to see it:
Jun 20, 2012 15:02:43 #
Nikonian72 wrote:
Most web spiders like to hang upside down, as does this one. Here is how your brain wants to see it:
Yes. And the shape of this one, for some reason, reminds me of the old red crown of ancient egypt.
:>)
Jun 20, 2012 16:28:54 #
glojo
Loc: South Devon, England
Nikonian72 wrote:
Most web spiders like to hang upside down, as does this one. Here is how your brain wants to see it:
Thank you very much for taking the time to visually show me what I could not understand. That is one butt ugly and weird looking spider, hopefully it cannot swim the Atlantic? :thumbup:
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