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Sunday, 15 February 2015

Green Orb Weaver: Araneus psittacinus Complex



Location: Bunbury
Season: Summer, February
Class: Arachnida 
Order: Araneae 
Suborder: Araneomorphae 
Family: Araneidae
Araneus psittacinus complex

This tiny green spider was found in a crevice of a car window in a parking lot. It can be presumed that this spider was actually a transfer from a region of green foliage where this spider was taking shelter. It has a tiny body measuring about 3 mm. The green abdomen has two pairs of proximally placed punctate marks. The small cephalothorax and the shape of the abdomen is characteristic of the family Araneidae, the family of Orb Weaving Spiders. This particular spider resembles Eriophora circulissparsus, previously placed in the genus Araneus. Given the geographic location of this particular spider, it could very well be Araneus eburneiventris. But because of the vast variation within the genera (and even species) and constant revision of taxonomy, it can safely be placed in A. psittacinus complex.

This spider is nocturnal. It weaves a web each night and destroys it in the morning, taking refuge by disguising itself in the nearby green foliage during the day.

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