in summer
Argiope minuta (Araneidae) [Japanese name : kogata kogane-gumo]
The spider weaves
an orb web with stabilimentum, or the band of white thread
in the shape of an X at the center of the web.
When you approach the spider, it jumps down from its web quickly.
See the photograph of the bottom. It's a mating pair of orb web spiders.
The small one is the male.
The length is 8-12 mm.
It is found on four main islands in Japan - namely, Honshu, Shikoku,
Kyushu, and Okinawa.
