Photo Adventures with Curiosity and Learning

Here is the setting - a new Nephila philipes with a couple of Argyrodes in mid-invasion. Surprise, there is a male Nephila as well as a male Argyrodes

Here is the female Nephila with a male Argyrodes to the left

A female Argyrodes

Close communion - a female Argyrodes adjacent to the front leg of the female Nephila

The context

Here is the male Argyrodes to the far left and the male Nephila closer to the female - his black palps are just visible

Another view of the male Nephila

The male Argyrodes

Here the male Nephila palps look like black headlights

Here the male is approaching the female

and just touches her spinneret

Whammo - she is not ready for this - at least just now

and off he goes to the left - a female Nephila brushoff

He starts his getaway - successfully

Here he is with his black palps - with a Argyrodes to the far left

I returned to the site of the black color morph - and here she is, minus 2 legs with with several invading Argyrodes

Here she is - a different perspective

and a male Argyrodes

Here is another color morph - with 4 invading Argyrodes and vivid golden silk

C. Frank Starmer

-