Orb weaver egg sac ID

mmcguffi

Arachnopeon
Joined
Oct 30, 2019
Messages
28
I thought these egg sacs were from a Trichonephila clavipes, as I found a very desiccated adult female hanging from a ratty web, but I think I might have mis-identified the dead female (very crunchy and all pigment gone). The egg sacs had strong bright yellow silk around them, but it think these might actually be from an Argiope aurantia? I can’t really find what (Trico)nephila egg sacs look like online for some reason.

In either case, does anyone know if they /have/ to be overwintered? Or can I cut open the sacs in a month or two and release the slings? I’m keeping them in a vented mason jar with hydrated vermiculite to provide humidity.

Im also very interested in (Trico)nephila if anyone has eggs/slings :)
 

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dangerforceidle

Arachnoangel
Joined
Aug 4, 2017
Messages
780
I thought these egg sacs were from a Trichonephila clavipes, as I found a very desiccated adult female hanging from a ratty web, but I think I might have mis-identified the dead female (very crunchy and all pigment gone). The egg sacs had strong bright yellow silk around them, but it think these might actually be from an Argiope aurantia? I can’t really find what (Trico)nephila egg sacs look like online for some reason.

In either case, does anyone know if they /have/ to be overwintered? Or can I cut open the sacs in a month or two and release the slings? I’m keeping them in a vented mason jar with hydrated vermiculite to provide humidity.

Im also very interested in (Trico)nephila if anyone has eggs/slings :)
You could try the previous name Nephila clavipes for image searches? May have better results that way. Here's a link to one I found, which seems to match: https://www.flickriver.com/photos/hghjim/2854328012/

I would let them hatch on their own rather than cut the sac.
 

mmcguffi

Arachnopeon
Joined
Oct 30, 2019
Messages
28
You could try the previous name Nephila clavipes for image searches? May have better results that way. Here's a link to one I found, which seems to match: https://www.flickriver.com/photos/hghjim/2854328012/

I would let them hatch on their own rather than cut the sac.
I’m fairly certain those are Argiope aurantia sacs — people often intermingle the species, and if you google what those sacs look like, the are dead on for what you posted.

From what I’ve read Nephila (and possibly Trichonephila) put their sacs in leaf debris or even the ground. I haven’t been able to find any completely reliable sources showing what a sac actually looks like though.

Does anyone have direct knowledge of what (Tricho)nephila sacs look like?
 

dangerforceidle

Arachnoangel
Joined
Aug 4, 2017
Messages
780
I’m fairly certain those are Argiope aurantia sacs — people often intermingle the species, and if you google what those sacs look like, the are dead on for what you posted.
That's fair, it's a challenge to find accurately labelled images.

I wish I could be more assistance, but these species are not local to me and I don't have any experience observing them. Hopefully you find the answer!
 
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