Bowl and Doily Weaver, Frontinella pyramitela
Linyphiidae or Sheetweb Spider Family
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A
small spider, only about 3-4 mm (1/8 in) long. Body is brown to
reddish brown with white stripes and spots along the sides of the
adbomen. Legs are long and yellowish-brown. Males similar
but a bit smaller. They build unique webs that are easily identified. Sheetweb spiders make webs that are flat to curved sheets, rather than the symmetrical decorative orb webs spiders are famous for. This species builds two webs: a heavy-duty, curved, horizontal bowl-shaped web, with a flat, looser horizontal "doily" web underneath. The webs are n ot sticky, but insects that fly into the rigging that suspends the web fall into the bowl. The spider hangs from the underside of the bowl (above the doily), waiting for something to drop into the web. When something does drop in, and is suitable in size, the spider will bite it and inject venom. It may then consume the prey or save it for later. The prey generally consists of small insects like gnats, since the spider itself is small. The spider is also unusual in that males and females cohabit for some time in the same web, which the female builds, until the male decides to leave. What triggers the male to leave is not clear, but how much prey the web is catching is likely part of it. These spiders are found throughout much of the US and Canada, and prefer forests. The webs are mostl noticeable in late summer (the web at right was photographed in late August, on the upper east side of the Park). As the spider itself is so small and may retreat into hiding if it feels threatened, you are far more likely to see the unique web than the spider itself. If you do find a web, look at the underside of the bowl to see if she (or they) are home. Although the web itself appears messy, it should be appreciated for the marvel of engineering that it is. |
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