Salient features of the orb-web of the garden spider, Argiope luzona (Walckenaer, 1841) (Araneae: Araneidae)

Abrenica-Adamat, Liza R.; Torres, Mark Anthony J.; Barrion, Adelina A.; Dupo, Aimee Lynn B.; Demayo, Cesar G.

doi:10.21608/eajbsz.2009.16023

Salient features of the orb-web of the garden spider, Argiope luzona (Walckenaer, 1841) (Araneae: Araneidae)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology 9200 Iligan City, Philippines

² Institute of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, U.P. Los Bańos, Laguna, Philippines

10.21608/eajbsz.2009.16023

Abstract

Many orb-web building spiders such as the garden spider Argiope luzona (Walckenaer, 1841) add conspicuous, white zigzag silk decorations termed stabilimenta onto the central portion of the webs. We studied the features of the web of this species by examining the stabilimenta, variations in form and quantity, presence and absence of stabilimentum and structure to be able to understand the nature of web building especially the factors that affect the nature of the built web. Field observations reveal that the stabilimenta of A. luzona are mainly discoid or cruciate which significantly depended on body size. Smaller individuals (body size < 0.6 cm) produced mainly discoid stabilimenta and larger individuals (body size > 0.6 cm) produced strictly cruciate stabilimenta that are 1-armed, 2-armed, 3-armed, 4-armed, or 5-armed. Results also showed that the spiders’ body size was positively correlated to the number of stabilimentum arms, length of upper arms and to the length difference between upper and lower arms. Smaller individuals (body size :< 0.8 cm) built 2-armed and 4-armed only while larger individuals (body size :> 0.8 cm) built 1-armed, 2-armed, 3-armed, 4-armed and 5-armed stabilimenta.

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