Levi-2003

Guides

• Mastophora stowei

  Bolas spider

  Mastophora stowei is a species of bolas spider in the orb-weaver family Araneidae, described by Herbert W. Levi in 2003. Like other members of the genus Mastophora, this species has abandoned the construction of traditional orb webs in favor of a specialized hunting technique using a single sticky silk globule suspended on a dragline. The species occurs in the United States and is one of approximately 15 Mastophora species found in North America.

  Araneidaebolas-spiderspecialized-hunting-behaviorpheromone-mimicrycryptic-colorationsexual-dimorphismLevi-2003United-Statesnocturnal-predatorsilk-modification