The garden spider (Araneus diadematus) is an arachnid belonging to the genus Araneus, which is present in all parts of the world. They are spiders, which along with the others of this genus, inhabit forests, especially in growth of the piedmont.
-Species: Araneus diadematus Clerck, 1757.
Habitat and distribution
The garden spider is widely distributed from littoral areas to high mountains, although it is native to the Nearctic zone. It can be found both in gardens or places where humans live, as well as in open places in nature, especially in Europe.
Garden spider. Source: pixabay.com
As for America, it is an introduced species. It is located in New England and Canada, passing through Washington, Oregon and British Columbia. This spider lives in temperate and terrestrial zones.
Also, it can be obtained in savannas and prairies. Therefore, it requires some presence of humidity in its habitat.
In the dwelling place there are usually several connection points for the weaving of the web, and there must be enough vertical open space for the orbits of the web.
Reproduction
This spider has a life cycle of approximately two years. Females have a pair of spermathecae or seminal receptacles where they store sperm during copulation until egg laying.
Males exude sperm through the epigastric sulcus into a sperm web and transfer it to their terminal palp. Only the correct palp fits the appropriate epigine, thus ensuring the reproductive success of this species.
Araneus diadematus covered in garden dew. Source: pixabay.com
During copulation, males hug the females' abdomen and insert a palp. The male is then removed and his palps are again filled with sperm. This process can be repeated few times, since the life expectancy of males is shorter than that of females.
Females reproduce once and die shortly after laying their eggs. The breeding season is at the end of the summer season, and the rearing in juvenile state is achieved in the following spring.
Feeding
This species of spider is carnivorous (insectivorous). It feeds on prey such as insects and other arthropods from terrestrial habitat. In addition, it is common to get another spider like the Argyrodes in its web, which is small in size and feeds on the remains of prey left by A. diadematus.
A garden spider wrapping its prey in silk. Source: pixabay.com
It is interesting how individuals of this species wrap their prey with a silk thread before consuming them. After killing and wrapping their prey, spiders may or may not consume them immediately.
Thus, the garden spider constitutes a biological regulator or controller of insects, since they feed on them, thus reducing the populations of insects and pests.
References
- Catalan Institution of Natural History Bages. 2019. Araneus diadematus. Taken from: ichn2.iec.cat
- Rhisiart, A., Vollrath, F. 1994. Design features of the orb web of the spider, Araneus diadematus. Behavioral Ecology 5 (3): 280-287.
- Godfrey, M. 1997. Field guide to the piedmont. Southern Gateways. 499 p. Taken from: books.google.co.ve
- Godines, V., Fabritius, S. 2001. Araneus diadematus. Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Taken from: animaldiversity.org
- Catalog of Life: 2019 Annual Checklist. 2019. Araneus diadematus Clerck, 1757. Taken from: catalogueoflife.org