The sponge-like central silk nest houses the spiders. Large sheet
webs catch mainly flying insects. The summed sheet web areas for a 20 x 15 x
15 cm central nest measure about 12 000 cm². © Seibt
| Ecology and nest function Ökologie und Nestfunktion |
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| Stegodyphus is a cribellate spider. The African species inhabit dry thornbush country and build their bipartite nests preferably in spiny trees. The central nest shelters the spiders against most predators but does not protect them from overheating, bushfire or desiccation. |
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The sponge-like central silk nest houses the spiders. Large sheet
webs catch mainly flying insects. The summed sheet web areas for a 20 x 15 x
15 cm central nest measure about 12 000 cm². © Seibt |
Literature
Seibt, Uta & Wickler, Wolfgang 1990: The protective function of the compact silk
nest of social Stegodyphus spiders (Araneae, Eresidae). Oecologia 82, 317-321