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Lobat orb-weaver, or Argiope lobata (Agriope lobata) is a species of orb-weaving spider from the genus Argiope. Argiope lobata is one of the species of spiders of the Araneidae family, inhabiting dry and very sunny areas, even with poor soils and vegetation, as well as rocks. In terms of size and habits, the lobed argiope basically differs little from its striped counterpart, the Wasp Spider (Argiope bruennichi). Unlike Brünnich’s argiope, lobulated argiope can occur in nature in large aggregations. This is a spider of medium size, the body length of females is cm. The abdomen is silvery-white with six deep notches-lobules, the color of which varies from dark to orange. The trapping net is wheel-shaped, its center is densely braided with cobweb threads. In the Saratov region, it inhabits mainly semi-desert and steppe regions, a rather rare species in our area, listed in the Red Book of the Saratov region. Argiope’s venom paralyzes both invertebrates and vertebrates. Argiope spiders do not pose a great danger to humans, since their poison is rather weak. Only the female of this spider can bite a person, and then if you pick her up. The bite itself is quite painful, as the spider inserts its stinging organs very deep under the skin. A few seconds after the bite, the area around the wound begins to redden and swell, there is a feeling of numbness. After a few hours, the pain begins to subside, and the swelling disappears in two to three days. The real danger of argiope bites is only for people who are allergic to insect bites. This is a spider of medium size, the body length of females is cm. The abdomen is silvery-white with six deep notches-lobules, the color of which varies from dark to orange. The most striking distinguishing feature of the spider is its flat belly, which has sharp teeth along the edges. The cephalothorax and most of the opisthosoma are covered with small silvery hairs. There are yellow, sometimes orange and dark stripes on the flanks and along the edges of the abdomen. The legs are striped black and yellow. In males, due to their small size, the spikes on the opisthosoma are invisible. The legs are much less intensely colored and, when the spider folds them, turns into just a little dirty brown lump. The silver of the abdomen is marked with black and red spots, and runs deep furrows and distinctive lobes along the margin. Like other spiders of this genus, agryopes are good weavers, they weave a large web, and, as a rule, decorate it with a noticeable zigzag pattern, which differs in thickness from the main web. The net can be found both near the ground itself and at a height of 60 to 120 cm, which allows the argiope to catch winged insects at a considerable height. Circular or zigzag pattern, scientifically stabilimentum is equipped with properties to reflect ultraviolet rays, and this in turn attracts insects. Due to the very high strength of the thread and the good stretch of the fibers, this type of spider is able to cope with very strong arthropods, such as large grasshoppers, locusts and dragonflies. The spiders wait for their prey during the day and mostly in direct sunlight in the center of the web. After a potential victim enters the web, the spider runs to the place where the insect is hooked and injects poison, while trying to wrap the prey in a web as quickly as possible to immobilize it. The poison paralyzes the victim, and at the same time there is a liquefaction inside the body of the insect with enzymes. When the prey stops fighting, the spider sucks out the insides, and the remnants of the chitinous shell covered with silk thread are thrown out. If the prey is not eaten immediately, then it is saved for the future. This arachnid hunter has an unusual habit of eating its prey on the ground, hiding from outsiders. The spider also uses the earth if it is alarmed: it immediately goes down and puts its abdomen up, sticking its cephalothorax into the ground. Since adult females are about three times larger than males, they have to choose the time for mating so as not to be eaten. As a rule, they approach the female when she is just completing her final molt. At this time, she already reaches puberty, but is weak, and then there is a chance of not being eaten. After mating, the male runs away. The female gradually becomes fatter due to the increase in the mass of eggs, and after a month she lays several bags on the neighboring vegetation. The life cycle of argiope is 1 year. Small spiders hatch from eggs laid in cobweb jars, in which they hibernate, growing up only by the next summer.
