Garden tent web spider (Cyrtophora cicatrosa)


 The garden tent web spider belongs to the family of orb weaver spiders. Although they are in the orb-weaver family, they do not build orb webs. Their tent-like, highly complex non-sticky web is sometimes considered a precursor of the simplified orb web. These webs are aligned horizontally, with a network of supporting threads above them. These spiders often live in colonies. Females have a body length of mostly about 10 millimeters long. 

The spider constructs a tent web, about a meter high form the ground. Builds the web in an open environment. Prefers moist and thick surroundings.

Hunting method - 
The spider rests at the hub or in the retreat. An airborne insect striking the upper barrier web either drops onto the horizontal net or remains entangled in the upper barrier web. The prey produces vibrations in the web upon impact and/or during struggling, and these are transmitted via web elements to the hub. Some discrimination of prey characteristics on the basis of vibration frequencies may occur at this stage, although accurate discrimination of prey type is unlikely. Location of prey on the web often involves pulling and jerking the net or threads of the upper barrier web with legs.
Insects are immobilized by biting or by wrapping in silk, or by a combination of the two methods. If an insect remains caught in the upper barrier web, the spider runs out under the sheet and shakes it violently until the prey falls on the sheet. Insects that cannot be dislodged in this manner are attacked and immobilized in the upper barrier web. The barrier web may be reached by climbing through the open hub, climbing over the outer edge of the sheet, or by cutting a hole in the sheet and climbing through it. Insects are rarely attacked in the lower barrier web

Comments

  1. Pranav24 Oct 2020, 08:44:00

    🔥🔥

    ReplyDelete
  2. Deepa24 Oct 2020, 08:44:00

    Thanks for all the effort that you take in compiling this information and educating us about all these creatures around us.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Deepa24 Oct 2020, 08:45:00

    Thanks for all the effort that you take in compiling this information and educating us about all these creatures around us.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Animish Tiwari24 Oct 2020, 09:43:00

    excellent 💯💯💯💯

    ReplyDelete
  5. Unknown24 Oct 2020, 10:23:00

    🤩🤩🤩

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wildframe.in25 Oct 2020, 22:48:00

    Great info and lovely shot.

    ReplyDelete
  7. MaiSiddharthHoon30 Oct 2020, 22:10:00

    Amazing

    ReplyDelete

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