Day/night change in orientation of the orb-weaver Azilia guatemalensis (Araneae: Tetragnathidae)
Most orb weavers orient downward on their orbs, but here we describe an unusual pattern of orientation in the tetragnathid Azilia guatemalensis. This species changes its orientation on the hub with a consistent day/night pattern. During the day, the spiders orient upward on the orb, but orient do...
| Main Authors: | Barrantes Montero, Gilbert, Angulo Vásquez, John, Carvajal Cerdas, Diego, Ureña Rojas, Angélica, Zúñiga Madrigal, Jorge |
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| Format: | Artículo |
| Language: | Inglés |
| Published: |
2021
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: |
https://bioone.org/journals/arachnology/volume-18/issue-8/arac.2021.18.8.918/Day-night-change-in-orientation-of-the-orb-weaver-Azilia/10.13156/arac.2021.18.8.918.short https://hdl.handle.net/10669/85420 |
| Summary: |
Most orb weavers orient downward on their orbs, but here we
describe an unusual pattern of orientation in the tetragnathid
Azilia guatemalensis. This species changes its orientation on the
hub with a consistent day/night pattern. During the day, the spiders orient upward on the orb, but orient downward during the
night. In addition, we found that the spiders construct a few silk
lines that connect the hub with a sparse mesh near the upper
edge of the orb which, in turn, is connected to the substrate.
When disturbed, the spider runs using these lines and hides on
the substrate, suggesting that its upward orientation during the
day, and its escape behaviour, may be a response to diurnal
enemies. |
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