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Argiope luzona
This is a Signature Spider (Argiope luzona) male, subadult. It is close to its final moult, after which it will be an adult with only one purpose, to find a mate.
This male Signature Spider was spotted in the front yard of the rice mill, on its web attached to the leaf of a Blushing Philodendron (Philodendron erubescens). This is a climbing plant which has grown around the trunk of a Mango Tree, from the ground all the way up to the canopy. This Mango Tree and its climbing plant have been a great attraction for Argiope luzona spiders for many years. There are almost always one or two of these spiders living there. The juveniles tend to make their webs on the upper surfaces of the leaves and the adults always suspend their webs between the stems of the leaves.
These spiders often create a Stabilimentum (web decoration). The decoration of the spider shown here is called a "Discoid Stabilimentum".
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