1985] 
Eberhard — Orb web of Eustala 
107 
to a supporting frame line or lines attached at either end to a leaf. 
The numbers of radial lines varied between 5 and 8. 
The least orb-like aspect of the webs was the placement of the 
sticky lines. Instead of forming a more or less spiral pattern centered 
on the hub, the sticky lines ran both radially and along the frame 
lines in a sawtooth pattern. As shown in Fig. 2, some of the sticky 
lines ran directly along non-sticky radial lines, while others spanned 
spaces between radial and frame lines. 
Construction Behavior 
Construction behavior did not vary among the individuals 
observed, and confirmed the impression that the webs are modified 
orbs. After an extended period of exploration and repeated 
replacement of the few lines already laid, the spider finally began by 
constructing radial and frame lines. One frame construction 
observed carefully was essentially identical to the frame construc- 
tion behavior of other araneids that have been observed (e.g. Cod- 
dington in press and references therein, pers. obs. of Leucauge sp. 
nr. venusta). Subsequent radial lines were attached to the frames 
with the same behavior as that of other araneine species (Eberhard 
1982). No hub loops were laid until the radii were complete, when 
the spider turned 360-720° at the hub laying a more or less circular 
non-sticky line, then abruptly switched to laying a non-sticky line 
apparently equivalent to the temporary spiral of typical orb weav- 
ers. This line was laid at some distance from the hub, and the spider 
did not return all the way to the hub after each attachment; instead 
it reached laterally to contact each new radius. The temporary spiral 
was only attached to the longer radii, and consisted of a single 
incomplete “loop” (Fig. 2). 
The spider paused perhaps 15-30 seconds before commencing the 
sticky line. In one case it clearly moved out to the frame along the 
radius on which it had ended the tsp before commencing sticky line 
production; this detail was not checked in the others. It then moved 
inward along the radius, pulling with quick alternate movements of 
its legs IV on a sticky line that emerged as it moved. In one case I 
could see that the spider attached this sticky line at least twice to the 
radius along which it was moving. When the spider reached the 
temporary spiral line, it paused and pulled sticky line with several 
more strokes of its legs IV, and then attached it to the radius. 
