in autumn
Cyrtophora ikomosanensis (Araneidae) [Japanese name : suzumi-gumo]
The spider inhabits coppices, where it is well ventilated and there is
plenty of the sunlight. The spider weaves a web like a parachute.
The web is called the dome-mesh web. The dome-web is hanging by
supported strands of silk, which attaches to the branches of a
surrounding tree and undergrowth, and is made with a mesh of 3-4 mm.
As for the web, it is thin, not viscous and the insect that enters in
the web gets entangled by the thread and is caught.
Its abdomen has a lightning pattern and it comes in various colors -
red, green, and brown, etc.
Although it is a spider of southern Japan, it is moving northward.
The length is 18-23 mm.
It is found on four main islands in Japan - namely, Honshu, Shikoku,
Kyushu, and Okinawa.
