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Jun 6, 2004: Here is my little sister, Lumi, 4-5 mm long (1 mm between marks on the scale). Frank just discovered her near Natasha's home from 2002. Compare the color of my legs (dark brown) with Laura's more mature legs (click here or on My Pictures above) |
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Lumi and a scale - not the best of focus, but the best I can do without destroying the web. Her thorax is about 3-4 mm long. |
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Jun 6, 2004: Something of my life: design of a 3d web, repairing my web and positioned in my home |
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Jun 6, 2004: Videos of my web repairs and the vibration response |
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July 5, 2004: New insights into predator - prey interactions |
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Today, a big surprise was waiting for me.
Brenda Rindge wrote a wonderful
article for the
Post and Courier about my spider affairs. Soon email started arriving
that included observations from many others in the Charleston area. Among
them was the following observation from Laura Szweda - in this case, the
behavior of female bunting as she attacked the web of a Nephila Clavipes.
From Laura's observations, it seems reasonable to assume that the bunting
was all too aware of the strength of the spider silk comprising the web.
Here are Laura's comments:
"I wanted to share a unique experience with you concerning the Nephila clavipes. I am fortunate to live among abundant wildlife on Kiawah. I have gotten more opportunity here than anywhere I've lived to observe the interactions of wild creatures. This activity has been a lifelong passion. I recently watched a female bobcat stalk squirrels at my birdfeeder, chasing one up a palmetto tree. The clawmarks on the tree trunk are still intact! What a thrill! I have been a fascinated observer of the magnificent Golden Orb spiders since my move from "off." The gigantic web networks in the trees, in my windows, the spiders' rituals have been amazing. My birdfeeders have attracted many birds and more than our share of painted buntings who return each year. This year, I believe I have identified three different pairs. Last year, toward the end of the summer, I was watching a female bunting, flittering between two trees. On closer observation, she seemed to be tangled in the web of a huge Golden Orb spider. As I watched, I realized her movement was deliberate. She wasn't tangled in the web, but was piercing it. She flew a short distance from the web, attacked once more, then dove into the web and snapped her beak over the female spider, only the spider's legs protruded from either side of her mouth! She flew away, huge meal in tow. This same thing happened to another spider who had taken up an entire window frame with her web, my nose was practically pressed against the glass as I watched. No mistake, these spiders are a food source for the buntings. I haven't observed any other bird with the same activity. Fascinating." |
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July 8, 2004: All gone. Yesterday all our friends were absent from their web. So today I checked again. All absent, including a large female in our neighbor's garden. |
C. Frank Starmer