Signature Spider with Prey
Argiope luzona
15.456, 119.922
Field Notes
Description:
Argiope luzona: This young adult female looks very robust and healthy, sitting on the hub of her web with a wrapped prey insect, ready to be consumed when she feels hungry. How can I be sure that she is a young adult? The reddish colour of the legs is my main identifier. It indicates a younger adult. The legs become dark brown (almost black) in older females.
Habitat:
This female Signature Spider was spotted in our backyard. Her web was constructed on a coconut plant, up amongst the leaflets. This is unusual, at least amongst the spiders of this species that I have seen. I must have seen hundreds of these spiders, over the years and I would say that their favourite habitat is banana plants, followed by hedges and shrubs.Then, I have (very rarely) spotted some on rice crops, but coconut plants must be at the bottom of the list. I am pretty sure this is only the second time I have seen one on coconut.
Notes:
This spider has constructed a web decoration called a Two armed discontinuous Cruciate Stabilimentum. Her orb web is absolutely beautifully made. There is slight damage to the orb web, which you can see,just below the spider. I think this was probably caused when she captured the prey insect. The inpact of such a small insect flying into the web would probably not have done too much damage, but this spider can't afford to miss out on a meal and always launches a ferocious attack which, inevitably causes some damage to her web. Repairs and renewals are usually carried out during the hours of darkness, probably to avoid the attention of predators such as a spider wasp or a mantis.
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