Signature Spider Stabilimrntum

Description:

The spider shown above is a female Argiope luzona. As you can see, it has a small prey wrapped in white silk. This is the same silk that is used to create the Stabilimentum (web decoration) which is the subject of this spotting. The Stabilimenta (plural) appear in several different forms on the central part of Argiope spiders' webs. According to a study carried out by a group of Philippine academics, these web decorations are mostly constructed in one of two main forms - Discoid or Cruciate (and sometimes a combination of both). They determined that smaller spiders (body size < 6 mm) produced mainly Discoid Stabilimenta and larger individuals (body size > 6 mm) produced strictly Cruciate Stabilimenta. The example shown above is called a "Two-armed Discontinuous Cruciate Stabilimentum" (it does not cross the hub).

Habitat:

This Argiope luzona female was spotted on its web on foliage growing in the shade of a Mango Tree in the rice mill front yard.

Notes:

The nomenclature which I am using, for the various Stabilimenta shown in this series of spottings, comes from a scientific paper written by a leading group of Philippine academics. https://www.researchgate.net/publication............