Ontogeny of Web-building Behavior in Two Orb-weaving Spiders

Spideis of similar miss but of two different species Araneusdiadematus Cl. and Argiope aurantia L., build webs which havesimilar geometric patterns, but which differ in relative proportionsand thread number. Within species, webs may also differreliably,presumably on a genetic basis. Fine detail of the web undergoeschange throughout the lifetime of the spider, different formale and female; these changes are not simply response to thegrowing weight of the spider. Relatively simple restraints,such as availability of material for thread, result in adaptationsof web-building which may at first appear to be based upon buildingexperience, but which are in fact independent of it.