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Time for nephilids! Nephilids are a family (or subfamily 
) of spiders. Some of you are probably familiar with the Golden Orb Weaver (Nephila & Trichonephila species).
) of spiders. Some of you are probably familiar with the Golden Orb Weaver (Nephila & Trichonephila species).
Lesser known members of this (sub)family are Nephilengys, Nephilingis (pic 1), Herennia, and Clitaetra (pic 2).
In 2015 I had the opportunity to collect Trichonephila species in South Africa. There we discovered that males really suck at identifying their own females and would land on webs mostly randomly. This could be BAD.
Male with the wrong female
Male with the wrong female
Nobody wants to end up with the wrong mate! Waste of resources and sometimes your life... (literally for these spiders!)
These complex reproductive dynamics could lead to reproductive interference. Which I talk about here: https://www.nature.com/articles/srep36908
These complex reproductive dynamics could lead to reproductive interference. Which I talk about here: https://www.nature.com/articles/srep36908
Here's a pic of the first time I held one of these gentle giants. My soul left my body but I slowly got used to them and now I have no problem handling the biggest web spiders in the world!
