Abstract

ZAMBONATO, Bianca P.; DAEMON, Erik  and  PREZOTO, Fábio. An alternative technique for individual marking of orb-web spiders. Rev. etol. [online]. 2010, vol.9, n.1, pp. 3-5. ISSN 1517-2805.

A technique is proposed for individually marking orb-web spiders aiming at facilitating the identification of the individuals on their webs. To check the efficiency of the method, 17 females and 30 males of Nephila clavipes (Linnaeus 1767) were marked on the dorsal part of the opisthosoma using enamel applied through a disposable syringe. Success was obtained in marking 47 individuals; no death, dispersal or agonistic behavior was observed after the use of the method. This marking did not dissolve in contact with water, resisted the expansion of the opisthosoma and was lost only in the ecdysis. This method also was efficient for males that, being smaller than the females, demand a more careful methodology.

Keywords : Marking; Araneae; Nephila clavipes.

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