Zygiella x-notata (Clerck, 1757) – Missing-sector Orb-weaver

Occurrence: The Missing-Sector Orb-Weaver lives on bridges, buildings and fences. In the Czech republic is considered as rare species. In areas of its occurence it forms colonies. Description: It has round abdomen, the marking (folium) is very significant. You can mislead it with the Red-Sided Sector-Spider. Unlike Zygiella x-notata (the Missing-Sector Orb-Weaver) the Red-Sided Sector-Spider has light, yellow-brown prosoma and legs. We can discern darker spiders with brown prosoma and legs thanks to dark central stripe: the Red-Sided Sector-Spider has it tight, from eyes a short dark stripe can go on both sides of prosoma. The most reliable determination is according to genitals. An adult female can grow to about 12 mm. Period of occurrence: Adults are seen all the year. Web: The Missing-Sector Orb-Weaver weavs small, dense, and strong web. It usually responds to a prey soon. It moves on its web pretty fast and wants to spend the least possible time there. The signal thread is connected with nest, which is lined with dense fiber. If the nest is above the central area, so in area of web, where the signal thread is, there is a missing sector. There is the web cut to the circular sector. If the missing sector is too big, (over about 40°), spider can tape the sector with several threads. If the nest is at the same level as the central area, the missing sector is missing and the web is symmetrical. We can see the spider sitting on its web only at night. Food: The Missing-Sector Orb-Weaver hunts especially small flying insects.


photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl



photo: Kryštof Rückl




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