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Wildlife Spotting

Photo by Ava T-B
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

Is this a trashline spider?

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (6)
Ava T-B
The brains of tiny spiders (not necessarily the one in this picture) bulge out into their legs! http://www.stri.si.edu/
CindyBinghamKeiser
It seems only the genus Cyclosa has the common name of Trashline spiders. Metepeira has the disorganized web with debris in it along with an orb web. Unfortunately I wasn't able to determine the species with the pics. We have at least 8 species in Cali but for our area, it's probably one of 6: M. spinipes, M. ventura, M. crassipes, M. arizonica, M gosoga or M. grandiosa.
CindyBinghamKeiser
:-) I actually am amazed that many organisms can be identified down to the species at all! I don't recall ever seeing this particular genus labeled a trash line but I can look into it further tomorrow when I have access to a laptop and a book. It's difficult on the phone.
Ava T-B
So the messy thing is her "retreat?" Are they called trap line or trash line spiders? I keep making these (poetic, I think) mistakes :D
CindyBinghamKeiser
Hi Ava, we have one of these too. I believe it's from the Metepeira genus but I don't know the species. Here's some pics of one and its web: http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/spiders/Metepeira3.htm

Spotted for Missions

Mission
WILD Cities: Urban Biodiversity
Mission
Southern California Wildlife
Photographed
PublishedDecember 11, 2011

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