that makes two of us!buthus said:...and see if it could be kept successfully in captivity.
...why would you guess that?buthus said:Seems that some survive by stealing food from the host and other species hunt down the host. I would have to guess that they all probably steal food from the host until full grown and when ready and gravid, they kill the host ...maybe for the final meal.
I'd guess they can be kept without an orb weaver, it would be a little more difficult though.buthus said:I could see getting into orbs JUST to keep a line of those going!Talk about a highly specialized "pet".
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Pulk said:i'd like to identify it to species... does anyone have a link or something?
if put with an unenclosed Argiope, is it likely to stay there?
how much of a threat to the host is it? i.e., how likely is this?
would a setup with a female and male A. argentata, and an Argyrodes sp. work? (i'm thinking he and the parasite might not get along...) Any tips for keeping these thief spiders?
how much would any danger be heightened by having two thief spiders on the web?
Yah, your right. I was assuming that probably more species than A.incursus hunted down the host. Really interesting spiders ...I need to look into these more.hi,
why do you think it would kill its host?
I haven´t heard of an Argyrodes sp. killing its host...
Normally they just steal smaller prey caught by the web of their hosts, they use a very interesting technique to steal it so the host doesn´t even get to know there was prey (cutting major lines in the web).
They should be able to build webs on their own, so they could even survive without having a host, otherwise the hole colony would die soon after the host died.
Be sure to keep us up to date regarding this. If I had them, I'd do all I could do to set up an orb for 'em, but it would be nice to know how best to keep them going even w/out a host.I'd guess they can be kept without an orb weaver, it would be a little more difficult though.
I'll trade ya something for the sac.2 x 3 mm is GRAVID size... she made an eggsac and is now small.
more importantly, the argiope is chewing a cricket and the argyrodes snuck up next to it on the other side of the web! i hope she theives something. i might have pics later.
anyone know what to do with the eggsac? anyone interested in it? (the slings will prolly be too small for me to take care of.)
I'll try to do that, of course, but I didn't carefully watch her whole approach. It was veeerrry slow.Would be interesting to compare the movements and approach methods of male argiopes to that of the argyrodes.![]()
Why do you think she's fully aware of it?I dont believe for a second that the argiopes isnt fully aware of another spiders presence in her web. I just wanna ask her who does she think it is? :?![]()
Just assuming that they have an incredible sensitivity to any pressure or vibration in their web. But then again, maybe the argyrodes is light enough and moves slow enough that she isnt aware ...?Why do you think she's fully aware of it?
Seriously!Guess I be pipe-dreamin' that there might be some movement mimicry involved.Would be a cool adaption.
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