Gea heptagon

(Hentz, 1850)

Heptagonal Orbweaver

Gea heptagon is a of orb-weaving spider in the Araneidae. It is native to the Pacific Islands and Australia, and has been introduced to the United States and Argentina. The species belongs to a believed to be related to the larger Argiope, though it lacks the prominent (zigzag silk decoration) characteristic of that genus. Observations suggest it builds vertical orb webs with dense viscid spirals in low vegetation.

Heptagonal orbweaver by WanderingMogwai. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.American spiders and their spinningwork (5984691639) by McCook, Henry C.. Used under a Public domain license.Gea heptagon, Heptagonal Orbweaver by WanderingMogwai. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Gea heptagon: /ˈɡeɪ.ə ˈhɛp.təˌɡɒn/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Habitat

Builds vertical orb webs in low vegetation. The web features a dense viscid spiral and apparently lacks a (zigzag silk decoration) found in related such as Argiope.

Distribution

Native to Pacific Islands and Australia. Introduced and established in the United States and Argentina. Distribution records also include Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Valle del Cauca (Colombia).

Behavior

Drops from the web when slightly disturbed. Does not rest in the center of the web, unlike some related orb-weavers. Lacks the -building seen in Argiope .

Ecological Role

; constructs orb webs to capture flying insects.

Similar Taxa

  • Argiope spp.Related with similar orb-web architecture, but distinguished by larger body size, presence of (zigzag silk decoration), and habit of resting in web center.

More Details

Taxonomic Note

The Gea is believed to be related to Argiope based on morphological evidence (Levi, 1968), but lacks several behavioral and web-building characteristics of that genus.

Research Significance

of Gea have been noted as potentially useful for comparative studies of orb-web and , as they differ in notable ways from the more commonly studied Araneus, Zygiella, Argiope, and Uloborus.

Tags

Sources and further reading