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Project Noah Nature School
Argiope bruennichi
When a prey item is first caught in the web, Argiope bruennichi will quickly immobilise its prey by wrapping it in silk. The prey is then bitten and then injected with a paralysing venom and a protein dissolving enzyme. The male of the species is much smaller than the female. It can often be seen in or near a female's web waiting for her to complete her final moult, at which time she reaches sexual maturity. At this time her chelicerae (jaws) will be soft for a short time and the male may mate with the female without the danger of being eaten.
It is distributed throughout central Europe, northern Europe, north Africa, parts of Asia and in the Azores archipelago.
Related spotting (male): http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/325...
Spotted on Jul 16, 2013
Submitted on Jul 17, 2013
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