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
Spinybacked Orbweaver
Gasteracantha cancriformis
-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)
-Chelicerates Subphylum Chelicerata
-Typical Spiders (Suborder Araneomorphae)
-Entelegyne Spiders (Infraorder Entelegynae)
-Orbweavers and Allies (Superfamily Araneoidea)
-Orbweavers (Family Araneidae)
-Subfamily Gasteracanthinae
-Spiny Orbweavers (Genus Gasteracantha)
-Spinybacked Orbweaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis)
The spiny orb-weavers (Gasteracantha cancriformis), are colourful spiders found in different colours like orange, white, and yellow with spines and spots on their back.The females always have six pointed spines on their shell, but the shell color is either white, yellow or orange, and the spines are either black or red. Males are smaller and do not have spines. The spiny orb weaver spins flat, round shaped webs in shrubs, trees, and in the corners of windows and similar outdoor areas of buildings.The web captures flying, and sometimes crawling, pests such as beetles, moths, mosquitoes, whiteflies, and other small fly species.
Desrciption
• Gasteracantha cancriformis, commonly known as the spiny-backed orb-weaver or crab-like spiny orb-weaver, is a distinctive spider in the family Araneidae. Females have a broad, hard-looking abdomen with six prominent spines, giving them a crab-like or star-shaped outline. Their colouring varies and may include a white, yellow, orange, or reddish abdomen with black spots and contrasting spines. Males are much smaller and lack the female's prominent spines.
Range
• Gasteracantha cancriformis occurs from the southern United States through Mexico and Central America, across the Caribbean, and into much of South America. It is native to Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, and the surrounding area.
Habitat
• It inhabits woodland edges, tropical forests, scrub, gardens, and cultivated areas with shrubs and trees. Females construct circular orb webs among branches and foliage, often in relatively open spaces where flying insects pass through.
Diet
• Gasteracantha cancriformis feeds on small insects caught in its web, including flies, whiteflies, beetles, and moths. The female detects vibrations from trapped prey, moves towards it, and uses her fangs to immobilize it before feeding.