More than 2200 species of the wild flora and fauna photographed in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico and the surrounding area.
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Spiders of Zihuatanejo
ORDER ARANEAE
Golden Silk Spider
Trichonephila clavipes
-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)
-Chelicerates Subphylum Chelicerata
-Typical Spiders (Suborder Araneomorphae)
-Entelegyne Spiders (Infraorder Entelegynae)
-Orbweavers and Allies (Superfamily Araneoidea)
-Golden Orbweavers (Family Nephilidae)
-Banded Orbweavers (Genus Trichonephila)
-Golden Silk Spider (Trichonephila clavipes)
Known for the golden colour of their silk, the large size of their females, and their distinctive red-brown and yellow colouring, T. clavipes construct large, asymmetrical circular webs attached to trees and low shrubs in woods to catch small- and medium-size flying prey, mostly insects. They are not known to be aggressive towards humans, only biting out of self-defence if touched, and their relatively harmless venom has a low toxicity, posing little health concern to healthy human adults.
Description
• Trichonephila clavipes, commonly known as the golden silk orb-weaver, is a large orb-weaving spider in the family Araneidae. Females are much larger than males and have elongated abdomens with silvery, yellow, and brown markings. Their long legs are often banded with dark and light colours and may have distinctive tufts. They construct large orb-shaped webs made of strong, golden-yellow silk.
Range
• This species occurs from the southeastern United States through Mexico and Central America into parts of South America and the Caribbean. It is native to Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, and the surrounding area.
Habitat
• It inhabits tropical and subtropical forests, woodland edges, gardens, scrub, and other areas with suitable vegetation. Its large webs are commonly suspended between trees, shrubs, and other structures where flying insects are abundant.
Diet
• Trichonephila clavipes feeds primarily on flying insects caught in its web, including flies, mosquitoes, moths, and beetles. Larger individuals may capture a variety of other small flying arthropods.