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Originally Posted by Stevie B  Also, several legs seem to be missing and growing back afresh - would that be correct? |
It is worth noting that the 3rd pair of legs in
Araneus diadematus is realtively shorter than the others, amongst other things this aids in the spider's manouvreability in the web, and the construction of the web itself. Watch a spider spin a web, it is interesting how all the legs are co-ordinated and utilised in constructing the web.
It is also a fact that the courtship ritual of
Araneus diadematus is not usually a cordial process, with loss of limb(s) or part thereof often occuring in both male and female. The male has to be very careful when entering the web not to be mistaken for prey.
One recent such encounter that I observed ended with the male only giving it up as a bad job after the loss of two limbs to the female, who then proceeded to wrap the said limbs in silk presumably as a meal for later.
I understand that some speices of spider are also able to shed limbs in certain circumstances and regenerate new ones thereafter, although I do not know if
A. Diadematus is able to do this.
Best regards, Nik.