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Green weaver spider with Web
Argiope sp.
13.9034, 75.0641
Field Notes
Description:
Spotted this web architecture (a classic zig-zag Stabilimenta). The purpose of the stabilimentum is still a mystery as many theories are there. It is possible that it acts as camouflage for the spider lurking in the web's center, but it may also attract insect prey, or even warn birds of the presence of the web. Only those spiders that are active during the day construct stabilimenta in their webs.
Notes:
To construct the web, several radial lines are stretched among four or five anchor points that can be more than three feet apart. The radial lines meet at a central point. The spider makes a frame with several more radial lines and then fills the center with a spiral of silk, leaving a 5/16 to 3/8 inches (8 to 9.5 mm) gap between the spiral rings, starting with the innermost ring and moving outward in a clockwise motion. To ensure that the web is taut, the spider bends the radial lines slightly together while applying the silk spiral. The female's web is substantially larger than the male's, who builds a small zigzag web nearby. The spider occupies the center of the web, usually hanging head-down, waiting for prey to become ensnared in the web.
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