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Dewdrop spider

Argyrodes

Photo by Maria dB
Published on Project Noah
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35.9132, -79.0558

Field Notes

Description:

Dewdrop spiders are known as kleptoparasites, meaning they steal other spiders' prey. Even though they can spin their own webs, they live in a host spider's web and often move in to steal meals when the host spider is away. In this case, the dewdrop spider didn’t wait and is perched atop a meal wrapped up by a writing spider that is busy with it. Sometimes, the dewdrop spider feeds on small trapped insects that are not eaten by the host.

Habitat:

Mason Farm Biological Reserve

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)

Belated thanks for your comment, Alan. I imagine that they do but since the writing spider had such a big meal wrapped up, this one didn't appear worried.
Interesting. It seems a hazardous lifestyle - I wonder if the Argyrodes ever get eaten.
A belated thanks, Karen, and thanks, too, Wendy! This was a really interesting spotting for me as I had not known about kleptoparasitic spiders before.
Now THIS is cool! I never heard of this before. Thanks for the spotting!

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