spiders

Argiope anasuja Thorell

Argiope anasuja Thorell

Family : Araneidae

Size : Female: 8-12 mm; Male: 3.5-4.5 mm

Distribution: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives

Habitat: Moist Deciduous forests in the sunny parts

     These spiders construct vertical webs in shrubby plants and decorate their webs with stabilimenta. They usually rest in a head down position on the web. As one approaches the web, they hold their position until the last moment before slipping round in a flash to hide on the other side of the stabilimentum. Argiope is spread across tropics to temperate regions.

Eriovixia laglaisei

Eriovixia laglaisei

Family: Araneidae

Size: 5-9 mm

Distribution: India: Kerala, Tamil Nadu; Singapore, Philippines, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea

Habitat: Moist Deciduous forests, Urban localities

   This is one of the commonest spiders in Kerala and most people might have seen their webs in the backyards. The spider has a flattish abdomen covered with off white hairs. The posterior end of abdomen has tail like extension. It spins vertical orb webs and is usually found on plants, shrubs even on those in gardens. The under surface of abdomen has a black median patch bordered by white lateral patches. Species exhibit much variation in colour, some are white and some brownish. In its typical resting posture legs are pulled in around the abdomen and carapace thus forming a circular outline. Often near the spider there are some flecks of white silks. Eriowixia ranges from Africa to Papua New Guinea.

Gasteracantha geminata

Gasteracantha geminata

Family: Araneidae

Size: 7.7mm

Distribution: India: Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu; Sri Lanka

Habitat: Moist Deciduous forests

   This is one of the commonest spiders in Kerala, observed in almost all the districts of Kerala. They are characterized by the presence of hard shell like flattish bodies; and black and white transverse bands on the abdomen. The colouration and shell like body are thought to be providing protection to the spider. The abdomen has three pairs of long stout lateral spines or projections, these lateral spines are actually modified simple spines. Abdomen is also characterized by number of pit like depressions or sigilla. Typically these pits or imprints are dark coloured. They construct vertical orb webs, often in open spaces between the branches of tall shrubs. In its typical posture the front portion of abdomen covers the thoracic portion of cephalothorax and only the cephalic portion is visible from above. The genus Gasteracantha is widespread in the tropics.

Oxyopes birmanicus Thorell

Oxyopes birmanicus Thorell

Family: Oxyopidae

Size: 7-9 mm

Distribution: India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar.

Habitat: Shrubs in gardens and secondary forests.

   Carapace is round from front with hexagonally arranged eyes. A thin black straight line starts from each of the anterior median eyes, down the vertical face, and continues on down the centre of the long, pale chelicerae at the tip. The abdomen is long and thins. The legs are extremely spiny. There are black vertical bands along the side of the abdomen.