Biological and Behavioral Notes on Gasteracantha Cancriformis (Arachnida: Araneidae)
Abstract
Observations and experiments on the common, citrus grove-inhabiting, spiny-bellied orb-weaver, Gasteracantha cancriformis (L.), have demonstrated that the spider completes a life cycle in 1 year, maturing in the late fall and early winter. The characteristic webs vary in size and position and are reconstructed daily. Prey includes whiteflies, flies, moths and beetles. The tiny males accomplish sperm induction just prior to the 1 hour courtship and copulation. The ovate green-striped egg cases are constructed and filled in 1 to 2 hours. Eggs incubate in less than 2 weeks, deutova and first instar spiderlings hatch and molt within the case. Spiderlings do not disperse for 2 to 5 weeks.Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright for any article published in Florida Entomologist is held by the author(s) of the article. Florida Entomologist is an open access journal. Florida Entomologist follows terms of the Creative Commons, Attribution Non-Commercial License (cc by-nc). By submitting and publishing articles in Florida Entomologist, authors grant the FOJ and Florida Entomologist's host institutions permission to make the article available through Internet posting and electronic dissemination, and to otherwise archive the information contained both electronically and in a hard printed version. When used, information and images obtained from articles must be referenced and cited appropriately. Articles may be reproduced for personal, educational, or archival purposes, or any non-commercial use. Permission should be sought from the author(s) for multiple, non-commercial reproduction. Written permission from the author(s) is required for any commercial reproduction.
