The few that I've seen are smaller than the face on a dime !!! next to Velvet ants I would say they are more rare in baja...but the are very cool
little Units !!! none aggressive and dont like to move much....K&Trhintransit - 12-27-2012 at 08:33 AM
little guy, maybe 1/2 inch total. we just watched him and left his/her web to catch whatever he/she likes to eat.
thanks tehag, will google that.
it's amazing what turns up down here.
now, another animal question...how many times a year does/can a rock dove nest/raise young. I just had one that fledged two chicks, then immediately
laid eggs again, and fledged another pair. more to come?rhintransit - 12-27-2012 at 08:35 AM
well...it's a girl!:
Gasteracantha cancriformis (the star spider, spiny-backed orbweaver, spiny orbweaver spider, crab-like orbweaver spider, crab-like spiny orbweaver
spider, jewel spider, spiny-bellied orbweaver, jewel box spider or smiley face spider) is a species of spider.
Females are 5–9 millimetres (0.20–0.35 in) long and 10–13 mm (0.39–0.51 in) wide. The six abdominal spine-like projections on the abdomen are
characteristic. The carapace, legs and underside are black with white spots under the abdomen. Variations occur in the colour of the upperside of the
abdomen with black spots on white to yellow ground colour and red spines or yellow instead of white. Spines are sometimes black. Like in many other
spiders, males are much smaller (2 to 3 mm long) and longer than wide. They are similar to the females in colour but have a gray abdomen with white
spots and the spines are reduced to four or five stubby projections.
It is found across the southern part of the United States from California to Florida, as well as in Central America, Jamaica, Cuba, Dominican
Republic, Bermuda, South America and certain islands in the Bahamas. It has also been sighted in the Whitsunday Islands, Australia and Palawan,
Philippines, as well as Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands.
It lives in woodland edges and shrubby gardens. Many of the studies on this spider have taken place in citrus groves in Florida. They frequently live
in trees or around trees in shrubs.
This species of spider does not live very long. In fact, the lifespan only lasts until reproduction, which usually takes place the spring following
the winter when they hatched. Females die after producing an egg mass, and males die six days after a complete cycle of sperm induction to the female.
The genus name Gasteracantha derives from the Greek words γαστήρ (gaster, "belly") and
ἄκανθα (acantha, "thorn"), while the specific epithet cancriformis derives from the Latin words cancer ("crab") and
forma ("shape, form, appearance").bacquito - 12-27-2012 at 07:03 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by tehag
Crablike spiny orb weaver - Gasteracantha elipsoides
Wow, good call!!Bob H - 12-27-2012 at 07:44 PM
It amazes me what one can learn on this message board. What a great group of members here!!
