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Argyrodes miniaceus Location is Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. Alongside a stream and paddy fields.<br />
<figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/38260/argyrodes_miniaceus.html" title="Argyrodes miniaceus"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/2784/38260_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=ya6eHvQ2q9UnxJfmhGPoJluB3x8%3D" width="200" height="200" alt="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.<br />
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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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
Location is Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. Alongside a stream and paddy fields.<br />
http://www.jungledragon.com/image/38261/spider_red_gow_web_4869.html Argyrodes miniaceus,Bandung,Geotagged,Indonesia,Java,Spring,West Java,kleptoparasite,parasite,spider,symbiotic,symbiotic relationship" /></a></figure> Argyrodes miniaceus,Bandung,Geotagged,Indonesia,Java,West Java,Winter,kleptoparasite,parasite,spider,symbiotic,symbiotic relationship

Argyrodes miniaceus

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

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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
Location is Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. Alongside a stream and paddy fields.<br />
http://www.jungledragon.com/image/38261/spider_red_gow_web_4869.html Argyrodes miniaceus,Bandung,Geotagged,Indonesia,Java,Spring,West Java,kleptoparasite,parasite,spider,symbiotic,symbiotic relationship

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The Argyrodes miniaceus

Argyrodes miniaceus is a tangle-web spider in the Argyrodes genus.

Info 2 0

Similar species: Spiders

Species identified by Vodkaman

By Vodkaman

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Uploaded Apr 27, 2016. Captured Jul 20, 2012 11:15 in Jl. Lavender No.8, Ciwaruga, Parongpong, Kabupaten Bandung Barat, Jawa Barat, Indonesia.

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NIKON D7000
f/8.0
10/2500s
ISO1600
105mm

Captured in the winter. More winter photos.