Lobed argiope: males and females of these spiders simply hate each other (8 photos)

From love to hate one step. For lobular argiope, this is not just a phraseological unit, but a principle for building family life. Their males and females hate each other: the former steal food from the latter, and the latter eat the former. Therefore, in order to continue the family line, they go to the most desperate measures.





Bring the man, I want to eat!

Let's denote a couple of inputs. It's hard not to fall in love with Argiope. Even from an arachnophobe's point of view, she is incredibly beautiful! Variegated coloring, unusual lobulated abdomen. However, its size is modest - its body is only

1.5 centimeters long. But the legs are from the ears, which is why it seems that the spider is definitely no less than 5 centimeters. In short, the figure and eyes have the face of a berry.



Sorry, can you tell me how to get to the model casting?

In addition to being a beauty, Argiope is also smart! The arthropod builds huge networks, up to 120 centimeters in length. And the spider does this in an open field! The threads of the trap are strong and elastic, so they can withstand even muscular arthropods such as grasshoppers and dragonflies.





My web. Personal! I made it myself!

Argiope knows how to make nets that are not only large, but also beautiful. An openwork pattern made of several intertwined threads winds through the entire web - the stabilimentum. This is not only a stylish decoration, but also a cunning trap. The stabilimentum reflects ultraviolet light, butterflies and bees mistake the shining thread for an unusual flower and get caught in the net.



In this photo, the stabilimentum is located below and above the spider.

And the spider is extremely hospitable! Feeling the vibrations of the fishing net, the spider breaks to its source. She gently wraps a beech tree in a net, looking at the light. To finally calm the panicked insect, the hostess tenderly kisses her guest. The saliva injected during a kiss quickly turns the animal into a nutritious soup in a chitinous shell.



This grasshopper has finally quieted down. Hope he gets a good night's sleep!

All of the above applies only to females. Males have their own path. They are 3 times smaller, they do not have strong jaws or the ability to make a large web. But, like everyone else, they really want to live. Males prefer to steal food from girls, which they regularly get caught doing. And in spider society there is only one punishment for such a crime - death.



Feel the difference. This little one on top is a male.

Females do not like males very much. They do not allow them to approach them even for the sake of reproduction. It’s understandable, who loves freeloaders? Therefore, the “stronger” sex has to improvise. Fans watch their beloved around the clock, they are waiting for the moment of molting. The lady who has lost her old shell is weak and helpless, she is not able to provide worthy resistance.



The transfer of genetic cargo is completed.

Only molting spiders are an infrequent event, but there are many males. To get rid of competitors, guys are ready to take a desperate step: leave their genitals inside the girl forever. The genital opening is reliably sealed, and the male can be calm, no betrayal is expected. This is a very elegant solution, which has only one small side effect: for a male, the loss of a pip is fatal.



*Sad male sounds*

From now on, the female will have to eat for three, because dozens of eggs with lobed spiders are ripening in her! The mother spider is also excellent: by the end of summer she will lay a clutch and cover it with a fluffy blanket of spider webs. Having made sure that the kids are safe, she herself goes to rest.