Cone spider
| Cone spider | ||||||||||||
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Cone spider ( Cyclosa conica ), female |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Cyclosa conica | ||||||||||||
| ( Pallas , 1772) |
The cone spider ( Cyclosa conica ) is a species of spider from the family of real orb web spiders . The physique and color of the species are very unusual, but due to their small size, their excellent camouflage and the relatively special habitat, the species is hardly noticed. It is widespread and common in Central Europe. The Arachnological Society named the cone spider Spider of the Year 2016.
features
The gender dimorphism between the sexes is clearly pronounced in terms of size and color. The species remains relatively small; Males are 4.0-4.5 mm long, females reach a body length of 6.0 to 7.0 mm. In the female, the prosoma is monochrome, lacquer black. The opisthosoma is elongated into a blunt, sloping upwardly protruding hump, from which the species owes its name. The coloration of the opisthosoma varies greatly; it shows more or less extensive, irregular, white spots on a gray, brown, red or black background. Usually the back is a bit darker. The legs are darkly curled. In the rest position, the cone spider sits in the middle of the net with its legs drawn around the prosoma so that it is hardly noticeable.
In the male, the prosoma is also solid black. The opisthosoma is only slightly extended backwards like a hump. The light legs are broadly ringed black-brown and brown.
distribution and habitat
The distribution of the cone spider includes all of Europe and beyond that the entire Holarctic . The species is apparently very adaptable in terms of climate and occurs in arctic to subtropical climates.
It mainly inhabits young and quite dark coniferous wood, where the net is attached to the lower, dry branches. But it also occurs on sunny forest paths.
Way of life
The net is regular, very fine-meshed and is built vertically at heights of 1 to 2 m above the ground. The net often shows a 2 cm long stabiliment above and below the hub , and remains of prey are stored there. Usually the cone spider always sits in the middle of the net, so that it is very well camouflaged between these prey remains. In the event of a disturbance, the web is set in motion so that the spider is no longer recognizable between the remains of the prey and the stabiliment. The cocoon is placed on a branch near the net in midsummer. It is covered with loose, golden yellow threads.
Danger
The species is widespread and common in suitable habitats. In Germany it is classified as "safe" in the Red List .
literature
- Heiko Bellmann: Cosmos Atlas Arachnids of Europe . 3rd edition, 2006. Kosmos, Stuttgart. ISBN 978-3-440-10746-1
- Ralph Platen, Bodo von Broen, Andreas Herrmann, Ulrich M. Ratschker & Peter Sacher: Total species list and red list of spiders, harvestmen and pseudoscorpions of the state of Brandenburg (Arachnida: Araneae, Opiliones, Pseudoscorpiones) with information on frequency and ecology. Nature conservation and landscape management in Brandenburg 8, booklet 2 (supplement); 1999.
Web links
Cyclosa conica in the World Spider Catalog
Individual evidence
Water spider (2000) | Wasp spider (2001) | Listspider (2002) | Great trembling spider (2003) | Green House Spider (2004) | Zebra jumping spider (2005) | Crab Spider (2006) | Common wolf spider (2007) | Angle spider (2008) | Triangular spider (2009) | Garden spider (2010) | Common Labyrinth Spider (2011) | Cave Wheel Web Spider (2012) | Common wallpaper spider (2013) | Common canopy spider (2014) | Vierfleck-Zartspinne (2015) | Cone spider (2016) | Crevasse spider (2017) | Fat Spider (2018) | Ant jumping spider (2019) | Edged hunting spider (2020)