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Moderate sexual cannibalism


Moderate sexual cannibalism
Photo Information
Copyright: Catherine Dijon (CatherineD) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 425 W: 15 N: 1845] (6667)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-06-25
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon EOS 40 D, Canon EF 100 mm F2.8 Macro USM
Exposure: f/6.3, 1/80 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-08-31 12:12
Viewed: 414
Points: 14
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [French]
Argiope lobata (Pallas, 1772)
Family : Araneidae

The Lobed Argiop is a spider with a wide distribution encompassing the whole of Africa and stretching to southern Europe and into Asia.
The male of this species is small (body length 6 mm) but the female is large and spectacular at up to 25 mm in length. The silver abdomen is marked with black and red spots and carries deep furrows and distinctive lobes around the edge. As with other spiders in this genus, the large web is usually decorated with prominent zig-zag stabilimenta. (Wikipedia)

Argiope lobata females are polyandrous and moderately sexually cannibalistic (40% of all males survive their first copulation). A copulation always ended with the females’ attack with or without the result of cannibalism. In a sense, the males cannibalized sacrificed themselves for their posterity. A majority of the males cannibalized damaged their genitalia and place a genital fragment inside the copulatory opening of the female. This obstruction reduced the share of paternity of males. (You can find more info on the scientific paper of Stefan H. Nessler)

Photo taken on the island of Ikaria
jlinaresp, anemone, bahadir, nasokoun has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Catherine,

Definitively, with this picture you does that these spiders seem beautiful!
Very good composition, taking both spiders to the extreme upper left and leaving thus free space for display of excellent way delicate details in the web.

Good job, nice!

Jesús

  • Great 
  • cirano Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 656 W: 0 N: 228] (4946)
  • [2009-08-31 12:42]

A wonderful macro shot.Tfs.
Dûrzan

Hi Catherine..
This specie has really effective behavior,, good capture..
TFS
Best Regards
Özgür

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527] (19673)
  • [2009-08-31 15:18]

Salut Catherine,pas seulement un grand scoop realise' a la perfection en details et couleurs,mais des infos vraiment interessants de ce moment curieux et terrible aussi...mes compliments! Bon Mardi,LUCIANO

Gran enfoque y profundidad Catherine. Los colores están de saturación en su punto y la vista del conjunto es original y eficaz. Es una especie que yo también he publicado al menos tres veces en Tk, ya que es una especie de arácnido que me fascina. Excelente trabajo.
Saludos: Josep Ignasi.

Hello Catherine, great action shot and now we can see a intraspecific cannibalism example.
TFS and greetings, Bahadır

Hi Catherine,
very good glance and particular beautiful scene of action, very good photo
TFS and regards
Nasos

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