The Amazon thorn spider (Micrathena schreibersiare) is known for the females’ highly decorative, heavily spiked abdomens. Found almost exclusively in the Americas, the genus derives its name from a blend of the Greek prefix micro- (small) and Athena, the ancient goddess of wisdom and weaving. These spiders practice a meticulous routine of daily recycling; every evening, the female systematically consumes the sticky, silk spirals of her own web to reclaim the valuable proteins, only to meticulously rebuild the entire web from scratch at dawn—a process that takes just under an hour. Interestingly, while most orb-weavers instantly wrap tangled prey in silk, the Amazon thorn spider first delivers a quick bite of mild venom to immobilize the victim before beginning the wrapping process. I spotted this intricately armored female suspended in her web within the city park of Puyo, a gateway town to the Ecuadorian Amazon. Due to her highly irregular, multi-spined silhouette and the way she swayed in the breeze, it took me quite a few attempts to secure sharp, high-quality photos.
