Signature Spider

Description:

Argiope luzona Walckenaer, 1842. The spider shown in my photos is a male and it has constructed a web decoration which in called a “Two-armed Continuous Cruciate Stabilimentum”. This would not be of any special interest if the spider was fully grown. Argiope luzona males are very much smaller than females and grow to a maximum body length of 6 mm. The norm for males of this species is that they build Discoid web decorations until they grow to full size. Then they produce either Discoid or Cruciate decorations. The anomaly here is that the male in my pictures is barely 3 mm long and would normally have built a Discoid decoration. This little male has extremely large pedipalps which make him look as if he is wearing boxing gloves.

Habitat:

This little male Argiope luzona was spotted in our backyard. Its web was built on the metal grill of our terrace. So, when I sit there with my morning coffee, it is right beside me.

Notes:

I originally posted the information on this spider along with an anomalous female, but it became too messy. So, I have now done separate spottings, this one for the male and a separate one for the female.