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Photo#662110
Arrowhead Spider (aka Triangle Orb Weaver) - Verrucosa arenata

Arrowhead Spider (aka Triangle Orb Weaver) - Verrucosa arenata
Newport near Banning Park, New Castle County, Delaware, USA
June 22, 2012
Size: 4-5mm
On Swamp Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica var. biflora)

Am curious to know what the purpose of the "trampoline" might be
and whether or not the spider made the hole.

In the second picture it's busy working at the webbing of the hole.
Whether it was making, repairing, or eating it (to make room to
escape from me), I guess I'll never know.

Images of this individual: tag all
Arrowhead Spider (aka Triangle Orb Weaver) - Verrucosa arenata Arrowhead Spider (aka Triangle Orb Weaver) - Verrucosa arenata Arrowhead Spider (aka Triangle Orb Weaver) - Verrucosa arenata Arrowhead Spider (aka Triangle Orb Weaver) - Verrucosa arenata

Verrucosa arenata
I don't think the spider made the hole. I would guess it might view the hole as a danger, so it covers it up? Or perhaps there is webbing all along the leaf & we can only see what's covering the hole?

Moved from Frass.

 
The "trampoline" is a very tight weave
and the silk is attached to the rim with those little white dots. Yes?
I frassed the first picture because the dots weren't as sharp. The
posture of the spider in the replacement picture is a bit funky,
but the dots around the rim show up better.

There are other spots on the leaf where silk is attached, but they're
more random and looked to me they were being used for the other web
lines. (?) I didn't see any heavy webbing, like on the "trampoline",
except for over that hole. I guess that doesn't mean they don't do
it anywhere else, it just means I didn't see any on this leaf.

Yes! I finally found another picture of the whole leaf and will add
it when I'm done here.

While I think of it, I originally was looking for a worm or
something similar. This tree is riddled with leaves that have
wavy and crinkly edges. Earlier in the month those affected edges
were red, but now it seems all I can find are green ones. Anyway,
I picked the leaf *because* it had a hole and turned it over, thinking
I'd find a worm or something. At first I thought I had a beetle
because the spider was on the edge of the hole and was all closed up.
"Closed up" meaning it had its legs all tucked in and it looked like
a little round thing sitting there. It was sitting half on, half off
the hole. It wasn't until I was almost back to the deck that I saw
it move, saw the legs, and came to think that I might have another
Arrowhead to pose for me. Whee! :oD

In the picture I'm about to add, with the whole leaf, that's where I
referenced the "building", or "repair" business it engaged in
after I so rudely disturbed it. When I was done it was returned and
gently placed from whence it came.

 
Yes, the replacement photos
are larger and it's easier to see the subject. Thanks. I am leaning more toward the idea it just is covering the hole... not the surface of the leaf. Neat shots.

Frassed
Moved from Arrowhead Spider.

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