Cyclosa conica

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iCyclosa conica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Arachnida Order: Araneae Suborder: Araneomorphae Family: Araneidae Genus: Cyclosa Species: C. conica
Binomial name
Cyclosa conica Pallas, 1772
Synonyms
Aranea conica Aranea triquetra Epeira conica Singa conica Epeira canadensis Cyrtophora conica Cyclosa strandjae

Cyclosa conica is a small spider with no common name. It is an orb weaver, and it is easily recognized by the way it strings together the dead bodies of insects and other debris and hangs it near the center of its web. It hides on this string of debris, and its natural coloration makes it extremely difficult to see until it moves. One of its defenses against predators is to blend in with this debris and to feign death when disturbed. These spiders are small. The females range from 5.3 mm. to 7.5 mm., and the males range from 3.6 mm. to 4 mm.

[edit] Subspecies

• Cyclosa conica albifoliata Strand, 1907 (France)
• Cyclosa conica defoliata Strand, 1907 (Central Europe)
• Cyclosa conica dimidiata Simon, 1929 (France)
• Cyclosa conica leucomelas Strand, 1907 (Central Europe)
• Cyclosa conica pyrenaica Strand, 1907 (France)
• Cyclosa conica zamezai Franganillo, 1909 (Portugal)

[edit] References

• B. J. Kaston, How to Know the Spiders, Dubuque, 1953.