Dewdrop Spider

I seriously think that's at least half the fun of this project - understanding nature better. You sound like you're definitely getting a lot out of being here. I know I am! :-)

I love to photograph natural history to document it, but I feel I am failing in some way if I do not at least try to understand it better in the process. Thank you for helping me along my journey of understanding.

You're quite welcome. I researched this one a few years ago when I found one in the web of an Argiope aurantia.

Here's some text from _Spiders of the Eastern United States_: "Argyrodes nephilae is often found at the periphery of the webs of large spiders as that of the golden silk spider, Nephila clavipes. It lives there most of the time as a commensal. It is too tiny for its host to be interested in it as a food source. And, A. nephilae does its host no harm. However, tiny insects often get trapped in the host's web and may be devoured by A. nephilae. Thus, some might argue that A. nephilae spends part of its existence in its host web as a kleptoparasite, stealing the food of its host. However, 'kleptoparasite' is most likely not an accurate description as this tiny spider does no harm to its larger host and the food that it 'steals' is too tiny for the host to eat. A. nephilae can also live an independent life and can spin a Theridion-like web among the branches of shrubs (Comstock, 1912)."

(note: Theridion is a genus in the Family Theridiiadae, of which Argyrodes nephilae also belongs)

Thank You for the ID Goody!