Argyrodes miniaceus

This is rather a menacing and creepy looking spider, but in actual fact, it is a very small creature, quoted as 3.5mm, but I estimate more like around 5mm in length. You really need to pick up a rule to see how small 5mm actually is.

This brightly colored spider is a kleptoparasite, which means that it steals the food of another to feed and survive. I hardly come across a single Nephila web that does not have a couple of these Argyrodes in play. They tend to hang around the edges of the huge web, picking off the small entrapments that are insignificant for the huge female Nephila.

The parasite is cautious not to stray too close to the host for obvious reasons, but I have never seen any attacks or disturbances during my observations.

One could argue that this arrangement was mutually beneficial to both the host Nephila and the parasite Argyrodes. The parasite gets a free meal and a home, and the host gets his web cleaned of those tedious little bugs that would otherwise collect and eventually cause housekeeping chores.

This relationship is referred to as being a symbiotic relationship. It is to both parties advantage to survive together, peacefully. There are many examples of symbiotics in nature.

Location is Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. Alongside a stream and paddy fields.

comments (7)

Mark Ridgway

Lion

Great! Tiny fragile guy. Posted 9 years ago

Ferdy Christant

Lion
Excellent post! Jivko maintains a great list of Symbiosis:
- Interesting symbiotic relationships
Posted 9 years ago
1. Vodkaman
  
  Lion
  
  My next symbiosis posting is special.
  
  I am having problems with the ID image. I ID the one I want to use first, but then the system re-identifies to the next image that I post. You can see here that the system has picked up on the reverse view instead of the full on side view.
  
  DAve Posted 9 years ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    With re-identify, do you mean this:
    - you identify one image, and the system indicates that photo as the species intro
    - you identify a second image, and now the system treats the second image as the species intro
    - both are identified, yet you expected the species intro to go to the first image you used
    
    If that is what you're aiming at, it is good to know that the system uses the post date as indicator of which photo to award the species intro to. Posted 9 years ago
  2. 1. Vodkaman
      
      Lion
      
      Ah, so if one of the images is older, it gets the prize hmmm.
      
      This means that sometimes the identifier doesn't make a lot of sense, for example:
      http://www.jungledragon.com/image/38209/asystasia_gangetica_-_creeping_foxglove.html
      
      I will find a solution, thanks.
      
      Dave Posted 9 years ago, modified 9 years ago
    2. 1. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Yes, that's how it works. If you think about it, it makes sense. A species intro means the first photo on the site of said species, where "first" is based on date, not when it was identified.
        
        The link you supply is broken, so I don't know what you mean with the identifier not making sense. Care to elaborate? Posted 9 years ago
      2. Vodkaman
        
        Lion
        
        What I had in mind didn't work. This set works, but the creeping foxglove did not. I had to delete the leaf posting, as it was grabbing the ID. The flower MUST be the ID.
        
        Dave Posted 9 years ago