daddy longlegs - Sikkim Insect

 

Daddy longlegs, which belong to the Opiliones Order are creatures known for their appearance. Despite their name they are not spiders. These fascinating creatures have a body structure that sets them apart, from arachnids – a fused body segment.

Daddy longlegs have a body and four pairs of slender legs. Unlike spiders they don't have venom glands or silk producing structures. Their diet consists mainly of decaying matter, insects and plant materials as they play an important role in ecosystems by aiding in the decomposition of organic matter and nutrient recycling. Importantly daddy longlegs pose no threat, to humans as they lack venom or fangs.

Cyrtophora moluccensis (Tent Spider) - Sikkim Spider

Scientific classification

Kingdom:  Animalia

Phylum:     Arthropoda

Class:         Arachnida

Order:       Araneae

Suborder: Araneomorphae

Family:     Araneidae

Genus:      Cyrtophora

Species:    C. moluccensis

Binomial name: Cyrtophora moluccensis (Doleschall, 1857)

Other Names:  Tent Spider or Dome-Web Spider

Special feature:  The abdomen is high and the anterior end overhangs the cephalothorax. It can be distinguished from similar species by the two tubercles on its abdomen, its elaborate pattern, and, in females, the shape of the median septum of the epigyne. In males, the embolus of the pedipalp is enclosed within the conductor. Females and immature spiders are yellow to green in color.

Cyrtophora, the tent-web spiders, although technically orb-web spiders (family Araneidae), do not build orb webs. Their tent-like, highly complex non-sticky web is sometimes considered a precursor of the simplified orb web. These webs are aligned horizontally, with a network of supporting threads above them. These spiders often live in colonies. Females have a body length of mostly about 10 mm. (Source: Wikipedia)

Giant wood spider (Nephila pilipes) - Sikkim Spider

Nephila pilipes (Giant wood spider)

Venue: Sirwani, Singtam,  South Sikkim

Date: November 29, 2014

Pic: Shital Pradhan

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia

Phylum:          Arthropoda

Class:             Arachnida

Order:            Araneae

Suborder:       Araneomorphae

Family:           Nephilidae

Genus:            Nephila

Species:           N. pilipes

Binomial name: Nephila pilipes (Fabricius, 1793)

Other Names: Giant Wood Spider, golden orb-weavers  or banana spiders.

Special feature:  Females are large and grow to a body size of 30–50 mm (overall size up to 20 cm), with males growing to 5–6 mm. It is one of the biggest spiders in the world.

The Nephila pilipes' web is vertical with a fine irregular mesh and not symmetrical, with the hub is usually nearer the top. Rather than egg sacks being hung in the web, a pit is dug which is then covered with plant debris or soil.

The first, second and fourth pairs of legs of juvenile females have dense hairy brushes, but as the spider matures these brushes disappear. (Source: Wikipedia)

Nephila pilipes (giant golden orb weaver) - Sikkim Spider

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia

Phylum:          Arthropoda

Class:              Arachnida

Order:            Araneae

Family:           Nephilidae

Genus:            Nephila

Species:           N. pilipes

Binomial name:  Nephila pilipes (Fabricius, 1793)

Other Names: northern golden orb weaver or giant golden orb weaver

Special feature: Females are large and grow to a body size of 30–50 mm (overall size up to 20 cm), with males growing to 5–6 mm. It is one of the biggest spiders in the world.

The Nephila pilipes' web is vertical with a fine irregular mesh and not symmetrical, with the hub is usually nearer the top. Rather than egg sacks being hung in the web, a pit is dug which is then covered with plant debris or soil.

The first, second and fourth pairs of legs of juvenile females have dense hairy brushes, but as the spider matures these brushes disappear.

Source: Wikipedia