Photo Adventures with Curiosity and Learning

First to establish the scale of N. pilipes and A. flavescens.

An accident. I tripped over one of the supporting strands and the top portion of the web collapses. Her is another view of the size scale with the accumulated collapsed web silk

Though the depth of field is not great - here is another size scale comparison

Ventral view

Here is a mature Argyrodes flavescens (center) and an infant (I think) to the upper right

Her abdomen is highly polished and here you can see the reflection of the sky. THe little yellow dots on the Nephila silk are caused by the accumulation of water which in turn regulates the tension of the silk. My question, though, is why are not droplets on the radial strands?

A closer view

Another reflection with yellow droplets

Just doing something

Manipulaing the silk

I think she is harvesting water droplets here

She just seems suspended in air here except for her drag line and a small strand that she holds with one of her left fore-legs

More acrobatics

From the spinneret

Another view of her spinneret

A dull reflection

A focused reflection

up close and personal

Another reflection

Closer

Here our Lady-in-black is hiding at the top of the web

Her head

and jaw

Holding her dragline with one leg

Interesting lighting

C. Frank Starmer

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