Photo Adventures with Curiosity and Learning

A fascinating evening. Below is a sequence of images of Eriovixia laglaisei extracting her legs from her old exoskeleton.

A crane fly

Compound eye of the crane fly

Salticidae - Jumping spider

She was rather friendly - and waltz around a bit with different presentations. you can see the reflection of my ring flash in her eyes.

Another view

Eriovixia laglaisei capturing prey

Shield bug?

Shield bug face?

Eriovixia laglaisei extracting legs from the old exoskeleton

Compare the location of the black bands to indicate the leg extraction

Continued extraction

Almost complete leg extraction

Almost complete leg extraction - Note the eyes(?) in the old exoskeleton

Completed leg extraction

Rotating legs down for drying (I think)

Another view

New legs in down position

Extending legs

Drawing legs inward - why?

Legs wrapping her abdomen

Holding the drag-line fiber with one of her back legs - this seems to be related to twisting - I am speculating - to make a small breeze to amplify drying legs

Twisting

Two legs controlling twisting

From the side

Twisting - more

More twisting

Dual drag-line strands for support and twisting

Manipulating the drag-line - initiating twisting?

Close view of the supporting two strands

Two supporting strands

Another view

I made an experiment - I gently blew on the strand - she immediately climbed over the exoskeleton - and waited a bit

Then climbed under a leaf to hide

Another Eriovixia laglaisei in her web

A wasp?

C. Frank Starmer

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