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Project Noah Nature School
Asianopus subrufa
Pics 3 & 4 were of this slender, long-legged spider as it appeared during the day. The body was stouter than the male's with a couple of lateral knobs on the dorsal side of the abdomen. Clearly visible were a pair of superiorly placed eyes and two small lateral eyes (pic 2). Could not get a shot of the large posterior facing eyes, a feature for which this species is so well known. Pic 1 shows the same spider at night with a blue rectangular net which was loosely slung from the front legs. The spider was prepared to get its meal at this stage.
Local garden.
A wonderful experience for me - seeing the blue net was something special ! This species weaves a fine blue net of cribellate silk which is a dry adhesive silk. When an insect such as an ant comes into view, the net is quickly stretched and the spider casts it over the prey trapping it for food. The spider hunts at night, constructing its web late in the day. It might eat its web in the morning.
Hoping I'd be able to get an action shot next time and a shot of those enormous eyes !
For some interesting information :
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/7/21/...
Family: Deinopidae
Nov '23 update name changed to Asianopus subrufa
Spotted on Dec 3, 2015
Submitted on Dec 3, 2015
26 Comments (1–25)
Thanks Jim. I was very lucky to see this. She was wandering inside the house a few days later - she's around somewhere !
Leuba...fascinating spotting, and associated information. Well deserved SOTW!
Thanks so much everyone.
Congratulations Leuba! Great series and info.
Congrats again on the well deserved SOTW :-)
Congrats on the upgrade to SOTW Leuba - well deserved
Congratulations to the SOTW.. She is a cool spotting.. :)
Wow congratulations! She deserves it. I hope she's finding some food in that dry old herb pot. :-)
Congratulations on SOTW Leuba!
Thank you so much Ashley and to all for liking and commenting on this spotting. There were great nominations this week so it's an honour to get the SOTW - thanks to this interesting little spider.
Congrats Leuba, this wonderful series has been selected as the Ranger's choice Spotting of the Week!
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Awesome and interesting series!
Great image Leuba, caught beautifully - no pun intended! :)
Thanks Sunny & Antonio - one of those nice things that you think won't happen to you - very lucky indeed. I am glad Mark reminded me to have a look at night.
Lovely find Leuba..
Wow,these spiders are amazing,great series Leuba,congrats and thanks for sharing
Very honoured. Thank you for nominating this fascinating spider, Ashley.
Your spotting has been nominated for the Spotting of the Week. The winner will be chosen by the Project Noah Rangers based on a combination of factors including: uniqueness of the shot, status of the organism (for example, rare or endangered), quality of the information provided in the habitat and description sections. There is a subjective element, of course; the spotting with the highest number of Ranger votes is chosen. Congratulations on being nominated!
Hema, you are right in commenting on the position - I had to be a bit of a gymnast to get a clear shot. Glad Mark clarified that.
I was just reading up on these spiders. They are amazing.. :)
No they usually go 'down' or sideways. This one is lining up against a vertical wall. They always seem to choose a light coloured, plain surface against which they can see prey in poor light (sometimes with a small 'marker' on it so they know when the prey is centered)
lovely !
simply amazing! I suppose it can cast the nest in an upside position only?
Great find. Hope she got something for all that scheming. :)
Thanks Christiane. Very lucky to have seen this one !