2007/01/18 by William G. Eberhard · 5 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Spider Taxonomy and Behavior Studies #Animal Behavior and Reproduction #Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
paper · doi:10.1111/j.1744-7429.2006.00254.x
openalex publication_date 2007/01/18 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
ABSTRACT Both the uloborid Philoponella vicina and the araneid Gasteracantha cancriformis spiders sometimes placed silk stabilimenta on non‐orb “resting webs” that consisted of only one or a few lines. These webs completely lacked sticky silk, so their stabilimenta could not function to attract prey. Some non‐orbs were built by spiders when their orb webs are damaged. These observations contradict the prey attraction camouflage hypothesis for stabilimentum function, but are compatible with the spider camouflage and web advertisement to avoid web destruction hypotheses.