360:
leading to stabilimentum production (i.e., the main function of the decoration) in each population might be different depending on the prey-and-predating context of that population. For example, in an environment where the food is abundant but predation pressure is high, the food resources are less important than prey avoidance. Therefore, the stabilimentum might have little to no effect on attracting prey but functions well as a distraction from predators. Walter offered a similar but more specific solution. He stated that the function of stabilimenta might not even be pattern or species-specific. Instead, he hypothesized that the visual signaling effect of stabilimenta might be derived from some non-signaling trait that is connected to other aspects of web-building behavior, such as silk disposition; this behavior was then selected preferentially to the specific ecological environment and therefore would be displayed through different patterns and functions among various habitats.
33:
224:
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311:. It has been suggested that stabilimenta could protect the spider by either camouflaging it (by breaking up its outline) or making it appear larger (by extending its outline). Another hypothesis is that they make the web visible and therefore animals such as birds are less likely to damage the spider's web. More recent work (2016) has leaned toward this latter hypothesis, further finding that food capture was reduced by their presence. The authors note that regardless of function, there is a high cost to building a stabilimentum, and therefore the benefit must be equally large.
189:
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170:, more commonly known as silver argiopes, are also known for spinning stabilimenta into their web. These stabilimenta can appear as zig-zag lines, and most commonly come in bouts of four creating a center-less X. Spiders in this genus also construct web decorations as vertical lines, and juveniles commonly construct disc-shaped decorations. Other spiders construct round structures covering the entire hub of the web. Some
46:
321:
Another hypothesis is that the purpose of the stabilimentum is to attract the male of the species to the web when the female is ready to reproduce. A limited study carried out in the
Calahonda area of Spain in the summer of 1992 showed that there was a positive correlation between the presence of a
370:
web decorations were found to support Stark's hypothesis above in that they do not attract prey and instead deter predators. This was determined through experiments where the spiders produced longer silk decorations when there was an increased predation risk, but were not affected by the amount of
359:
Several evolutionary models were proposed for the inconsistency in function across species. Stark argued that although these hypotheses seemingly conflict, they might not be mutually exclusive, and suggested that we could take a hierarchical approach to model this problem: the predominant factor
328:
and the presence of a stabilimentum. Many other hypotheses have also been proposed, such as thermoregulation, stress, or regulation of excess silk. At least one species has been observed to vibrate the web, while positioned in the stabilimentum when approached by a body the size of a human.
342:
does not; it usually rests at the edge of its orb and drops to the ground if disturbed. This is thought to support the web camouflage hypothesis. In contrast, the strongly UV-reflecting stabilimentum of the uloborid
188:
304:), though this hypothesis has since been dismissed because it was found that the decoration is only loosely attached to the web so that the actual influence on the stability could only be minor.
182:
construct conspicuous stabilimenta with attached detritus such as egg sacs and insect carcasses (mostly their prey), and also hang debris such as dried leaves from their webs.
769:
Bjorkman-Chiswell, Bojun T.; Kulinski, Melissa M.; Muscat, Robert L.; Nguyen, Kim A.; Norton, Briony A.; Symonds, Matthew R.E.; Westhorpe, Gina E. & Elgar, Mark A.
742:
238:
400:. These spiders commonly attach lines of uneaten prey items to their webs. Recent studies have shown that these items help the spider to attract more prey.
803:
978:(2018): Tracing the evolutionary origin of a visual signal: the coincidence of wrap attack and web decorating behaviours in orb web spiders (Araneidae).
178:
256:
206:
297:
There is much controversy surrounding the function of these structures, and different species likely use them for different purposes.
160:, so named for their habit of resting in their webs with their legs outstretched in the shape of an X, the traditional shape of the
459:
991:(1992): Stabilimenta as parasols: shade construction by Neogea sp.(Araneae: Araneidae, Argiopinae) and its thermal behaviour.
223:
1081:
676:"To be or not to be conspicuous: the effects of prey availability and predator risk on spider's web decoration building"
32:
275:
1183:
1297:
494:
Sewlal, Jo-Anne Nina (2016). "Possible
Functions of the Detritus Stabilimentum and Hanging Detritus in Webs of
17:
1178:
1141:
379:
While the most conspicuous and well-studied decorations are constructed entirely of silk (for example in
1004:(2004): The Effect of Food and Silk Reserve Manipulation on Decoration-Building of Argiope aetheroides.
883:
116:
make stabilimenta of silk, detritus, and their egg sacs. All those evolved independently from those of
318:. Light in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum is known to be attractive to many species of insects.
391:). It seems likely that these decorations camouflage the spider, thus protecting it from predators.
1131:
1074:
1367:
567:
80:
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246:
385:), some spiders combine silk with other items such as egg sacs and debris (for example in
8:
1106:
1067:
1054:
1037:(2002): The adaptive significance of stabilimentum in orb-webs: a hierarchical approach.
965:(2002): The adaptive significance of stabilimentum in orb-webs: a hierarchical approach.
877:
463:
1116:
907:(1983): Spider-Web Protection Through Visual Advertisement: Role of the Stabilimentum.
703:
515:
414:
899:
855:(Araneae: Araneidae) suggests that silk stabilimenta function as camouflage devices.
831:(1990): Insect attraction to ultraviolet-reflecting spider webs and web decorations.
823:
695:
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Likely, the use of stabilimenta evolved independently at least nine different times.
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The other dominating hypothesis is that web decorations attract prey by reflecting
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Something different occurs in some species of the golden orb spiders in the genus
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Although web decorations are common in several spider species in the families
27:
Conspicuous, usually zig-zagged, silk structure in some orb-weaver spider webs
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Originally the decorations were thought to stabilize the web (hence the term
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Audouin, 1826 (Ananeidae) spiders: ontogenetic and interspecific variation.
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Large format reference photos: Argiope spider orb web with stabilimenta
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771:(2004): Web-building spiders attract prey by storing decaying matter.
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1024:(1999): Do stabilimentum in orb webs attract prey or defend spiders?
753:
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Notable is the fact that stabilimentum-building spiders are largely
1261:
1251:
887:(Araneae: Araneidae): Evidence Against a Prey Attractant Function.
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It is claimed that, after observing stabilimenta in a spider web,
1241:
1236:
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172:
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on small islands: support of the predator-defense hypothesis.
607:
Herberstein et al. 2000; Bruce 2006; Eisner & Nowicki 1983
556:"Do stabilimenta in orb webs attract prey or defend spiders?"
267:
45:
851:(2003): Substitution of silk stabilimenta for egg sacks by
1059:
150:, they are probably best known from spiders of the genus
412:
came up with the idea of a writing spider for his book
194:
The detail of the stabilimentum in the web of a female
811:(2006): Silk decorations controversy and consensus.
554:
Blackledge, Todd A.; Wenzel, John W. (1 July 1999).
941:(1992): Stabilimenta characteristics of the spider
615:
613:
156:. This genus includes several species known as the
460:"SDNHM: Silver Argiope spider (Argiope argentata)"
200:showing its zig-zag structure and rostral location
79:structure included in the webs of some species of
1359:
610:
553:
445:
443:
59:on the stabilimentum at the center of the web.
1075:
754:BugGuide.Net: Family Araneidae – Orb Weavers
743:America's Wetland Foundation: Garden Spiders
921:: an improbable defence against predators.
440:
1082:
1068:
829:Craig, Catherine L. & Bernard, Gary D.
993:Bulletin – British Arachnological Society
917:(1970): Stabilimentum of orb web spider,
575:
217:from Australia build X-shaped decorations
549:
547:
44:
31:
791:(2005): Web decoration polymorphism in
789:Bruce, M.J. & Herberstein, Marie E.
86:. Its function is a subject of debate.
14:
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673:
493:
1063:
544:
403:
1022:Blackledge, T.A. & Wenzel, J.W.
947:Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
24:
1015:
939:Schoener, T.W. & Spiller, D.A.
25:
1379:
1048:
674:Nakata, Kensuke (November 2009).
1342:
1341:
1140:
915:Robinson, M.J. & Robinson, B
900:10.1111/j.1744-7429.2006.00254.x
824:10.1111/j.1469-7998.2006.00047.x
462:. 4 January 2012. Archived from
338:species construct stabilimenta,
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122:, although some decorations of
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350:was found to be attractive to
106:make silk stabilimenta, while
13:
1:
762:
692:10.1016/j.anbehav.2009.08.012
905:Eisner, T. & Nowicki, S.
532:Robinson & Robinson 1970
498:(Araneae: Tetragnathidae)".
484:Bruce & Herberstein 2005
433:
374:
158:Saint Andrew's Cross spiders
7:
1179:List of families of spiders
1089:
598:Schoener & Spiller 1999
421:
292:
250:with a spiral stabilimentum
10:
1384:
884:Gasteracantha cancriformis
881:(Araneae: Uloboridae) and
868:10.1163/156853903770238346
797:Journal of Natural History
628:Tickner 1992 (unpublished)
281:Detritus stabilimentum of
126:closely resemble those of
1337:
1316:
1285:
1192:
1149:
1138:
1097:
784:10.1007/s00114-004-0524-x
512:10.13156/arac.2006.17.1.1
89:
875:(2006): Stabilimenta of
619:Craig & Bernard 1990
112:and the closely related
1184:Lists of spider species
577:10.1093/beheco/10.4.372
568:Oxford University Press
133:
57:spiders both same genus
60:
42:
923:Canadian Entomologist
162:cross of Saint Andrew
48:
35:
980:Evolutionary Ecology
873:Eberhard, William G.
849:Eberhard, William G.
366:Cyclosa argenteoalba
322:male in the webs of
247:Octonoba yaeyamensis
1298:Cultural depictions
934:10.4039/Ent102641-6
878:Philoponella vicina
853:Allocyclosa bifurca
773:Naturwissenschaften
124:Allocyclosa bifurca
114:Allocyclosa bifurca
75:, is a conspicuous
71:), also known as a
38:Argiope flavipalpis
1026:Behavioral Ecology
958:10.1007/BF00177771
813:Journal of Zoology
729:Bjorkman-Chiswell
560:Behavioral Ecology
404:In popular culture
61:
43:
1355:
1354:
1286:Human interaction
1039:Annals of Zoology
967:Annals of Zoology
943:Argiope argentata
919:Argiope argentata
466:on 4 January 2012
340:Uloborus gibbosus
316:ultraviolet light
167:Argiope argentata
16:(Redirected from
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686:(5): 1255–1260.
680:Animal Behaviour
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1277:Urticating hair
1227:Cheliceral fang
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1016:Further reading
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55:juvenile female
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1127:Classification
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1049:External links
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894:(2): 216–220.
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73:web decoration
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1174:Opisthothelae
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1169:Mygalomorphae
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1159:Araneomorphae
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802:: 3833–3845.
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664:Walter (2018)
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65:stabilimentum
54:
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1035:Starks, P.T.
1028:
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963:Starks, P.T.
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655:Stark (2002)
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468:. Retrieved
464:the original
454:
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262:Oval spiral
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176:spiders and
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69:stabilimenta
68:
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41:adult female
36:
29:
1303:Spider bite
1257:Palpal bulb
1247:Opisthosoma
1212:Calamistrum
1117:Cannibalism
1099:Arachnology
952:: 309–318.
928:: 641–655.
862:: 847–868.
838:: 616–623.
809:Bruce, M.J.
778:: 245–248.
570:: 372–376.
500:Arachnology
470:14 December
410:E. B. White
332:While many
1324:Spider web
1222:Chelicerae
1164:Mesothelae
1107:Ballooning
1044:: 307–315.
1011:: 603–616.
1002:Tso, I. M.
985:: 159–170.
976:Walter, A.
972:: 307–315.
889:Biotropica
763:References
541:Stark 2002
506:(1): 1–6.
428:Spider web
353:Drosophila
148:Uloboridae
1272:Spinneret
1232:Cribellum
1207:Book lung
1122:Evolution
1006:Behaviour
857:Behaviour
818:: 89–97.
700:0003-3472
586:1045-2249
434:Footnotes
375:Materials
348:sybotides
140:Araneidae
67:(plural:
1362:Category
1347:Category
1262:Scopulae
1252:Pedipalp
1151:Taxonomy
1132:Glossary
1112:Behavior
998:: 42–47.
708:53183028
646:Tso 2004
520:87967289
422:See also
346:Octonoba
335:Uloborus
293:Function
1242:Exuviae
1237:Epigyne
1194:Anatomy
1091:Spiders
909:Science
833:Ecology
793:Argiope
397:Nephila
388:Cyclosa
382:Argiope
356:flies.
309:diurnal
286:oculata
284:Cyclosa
264:Cyclosa
230:Argiope
173:Cyclosa
153:Argiope
128:Argiope
119:Argiope
109:Cyclosa
97:Araneus
81:orb-web
52:Argiope
731:et al.
706:
698:
584:
518:
146:, and
90:Origin
84:spider
704:S2CID
566:(4).
516:S2CID
268:India
266:sp.,
1317:Webs
1267:Silk
733:2004
696:ISSN
582:ISSN
472:2020
134:Form
100:and
77:silk
1009:141
954:doi
930:doi
926:102
896:doi
864:doi
860:140
840:doi
820:doi
816:269
804:PDF
780:doi
688:doi
572:doi
508:doi
363:In
244:An
232:sp.
49:An
1364::
1042:39
1029:10
983:32
970:39
950:31
892:39
836:71
800:44
776:91
702:.
694:.
684:78
682:.
678:.
612:^
580:.
564:10
562:.
558:.
546:^
514:.
504:17
502:.
442:^
164:.
142:,
130:.
63:A
1083:e
1076:t
1069:v
996:9
956::
932::
898::
866::
842::
822::
782::
710:.
690::
588:.
574::
522:.
510::
474:.
417:.
368:,
20:)
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