#argyrodes

[razehider]

throughout summer, this Cyrtophora citricola became the mother of a few hundred children who had since dispersed (and admittedly mostly been eaten by predators or each other shortly after), and with no more responsibilities ahead of her, she could spend the rest of her days in her gigantic tridimensional web just hanging out. the same could be said of her much smaller Argyrodes argyrodes inquiline who, having spun an egg sac of her own, now only had to worry about occasionally yoinking food scraps off of her host. happy pride

(September 7th, 2025)

[platycryptus]

Dewdrop spiders (Argyrodes) are small silvery spiders that live in the webs of larger spiders, like this golden silk spider (Nephila clavipes) whose massive web hosts several of them.

Argyrodes feed kleptoparasitically on insects trapped by the larger spider. In this case a dewdrop spider is sharing a dead honeybee with several jackal flies (Milichiidae), which are also specialized kleptoparasites of spiders and other predators.

Though Argyrodes are typically assumed to be freeloaders, studies have shown that their reflective silvery appearance can attract more moths and other prey to the host‘s web, and that they most often feed on leftovers and small prey that the host spider doesn’t want.

(Florida, 10/27/21)

[onenicebugperday]

@fuckingcheerybeery​ submitted: Two spiders with radically different body plans and someone's wing covers. From central Florida.

Ohhhh a long pal and a dewdrop pal! The first photo literally looks like you took a pic of a normal spider and just stretched it in photoshop. Love this friend! They look like a long-jawed orbweaver in Tetragnatha. The second pal is a cobweb spider in the genus Argyrodes, the dewdrop spiders! Very fancy and metallic. And finally the elytra of a carabid beetle, most likely a fiery searcher, Calosoma scrutator. Thanks for sharing! Great finds!

[nippongoto]

チリイソウロウグモ

お腹がスリムなのは産卵直後だからか。

R2.10

南風原

[britsnana2]

8/11/2013

Family Theridiidae-  Cob web spider-  Argyrodes- Female adult. 5mm

This is the only one that looks like this I have found. She  has a red stripe going up the back of her abdomen. I could not get a good image of it.

This species is quite a bit larger than the little silver ones.

Argyrodes spiders are kleptoparasitic. They live in the outer edges of other spiders' webs and move in to steal prey when the coast is clear. Apparently the method of at least one species (Argyrodes nephilae) is to attach a line of silk then cut the wrapped prey out of the host web. The bundle swings free and can be taken to the outskirts of the main web to be eaten in relative safety.

Information from BugGuide.

[libutron]

Dewdrop spìders: consummated thieves

Argyrodes (Theridiidae) is a genus of spiders found worldwide commonly called Dewdrop spiders. Most species are fairly small (2‐8 mm body length) but very readily found and collected as they live exclusively as kleptoparasites in webs of large orbweavers.

Most Argyrodes live in the webs of other spiders, stealing food from the host, scavenging small prey from the web or killing and eating the host.

References: [1] - [2] - [3]

Photo credit: ©Vipin Baliga

Locality: Virajpet, Karnataka, Western Ghats, India.