Mecynogea lemniscata

(Walckenaer, 1841)

Basilica Orbweaver

Mecynogea lemniscata, commonly known as the basilica orbweaver, is a of -weaving in the Araneidae. It occurs across a broad geographic range from the United States to Argentina. Females are that employ orb-web hunting strategies. Research has documented sixteen distinct behavioral acts during capture, with sequences varying according to prey .

Basilica Orbweaver - Mecynogea lemniscata ♀ (47085353332) by Christina Butler from Georgia, United States. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Basilica Orbweaver - Mecynogea lemniscata, Woodbridge, Virginia by Judy Gallagher. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Mecynogea lemniscata: //ˌmɛsɪˈnoʊdʒiə ˌlɛm.nɪˈskɑːtə//

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Images

Distribution

United States to Argentina; records include El Salvador, Guatemala, and USA

Diet

; has been observed preying on , , and Asiatic oak

Behavior

capture typically begins with web-plucking , followed by variable sequences depending on prey . Predatory behavior is most similar to that of higher araneids. Sixteen behavioral acts have been described for this .