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Buck-spoor spider's web trap

How about this sweet mimic evolutionary design.. for a sand-dweller: Its only the females that hunt in this characteristic burrow and she spends her whole life here (unless damaged then rebuilds). She digs a hole up to 15cm deep.. the sand particles are apparently bound in parcels of silk, to facilitate carrying, before these bundles are spun unto the surface webbing. On the surface, two or four sticky-edged, silk web sheets, consisting of her cribellate silk mixed with sand, form the thick mats. Its the repeated opening of the silky flaps creates an impressions ..of a hoof ~ 'toevallig' . Of course the tiny males, which are seldom seen imitate sugar ants or velvet ants in their appearance. They are thermophilous - which means both males as well as females are most active on hot days. In the Karoo temps can reach 35-50C ~ the best time to "spronk" around in the wildlands to find some Araneomorphae action. ; - )

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Uploaded on November 30, 2016
Taken on October 15, 2016