The spider-cross did not get its name by accident. The fact is that there are light spots on its back, which are located in such a way that they draw a clearly visible cross. In addition, the places in which he lives are fraught with a certain risk to his life.
Where does the cross spider live?
The common cross can be found throughout Europe. Its favorite habitats are forests, shrubs, and gardens. Usually, the crosses can be seen at a height of about 30-150 cm above the ground. The spider-cross adores damp places in which there are a large number of mosquitoes and flies - the favorite food of this creature. However, such habitats are often associated with a certain risk to the life of the spider.
That is why many crosses generally live in tree crowns at a height unattainable for enemies. They build themselves a secluded shelter of leaves, stretching their webs between branches. By the way, you can often see a wheel-like web under the cornices of abandoned architectural structures, as well as in the window frames of your own home. Since the web is an integral attribute of the vital activity of the spider-cross, its habitation is simply impossible without it.
Strong spider web is the main attribute of the spider's habitat
In principle, enemies are not asleep even at the height of tree crowns. In this case, his well-woven web comes to the aid of the spider (although not always), which he has to maintain every day in integrity and safety. Because of the restless flies and wasps, the spider's nets constantly require minor repairs. In addition, it is destroyed by small and large insects, animals and even humans (for example, lumberjacks and woodcutters).
Since the basic law of survival of a spider-spider is a tight and timely woven web, the method of constructing a spider's web is quite curious. The substance emerging from the arachnoid warts located on the edge of the spider's abdomen freezes in the air and forms threads of amazing and extraordinary strength.
The cross spider attaches the main thread from the highest point at the place that it has chosen as its home. Basically, this happens between two branches or trees. When the cross fixes the first part of the "foundation", it begins to swing until it grabs the adjacent side branch. The result is a crossbar.
To pull the upper transverse thread tightly, the cross must move from one tree (or branch) to another, and this is quite costly. If such a thread is pulled tight enough, then the spider begins to strengthen it with additional short transverse threads.
As soon as the main extreme threads are pulled, a kind of spiderweb frame will appear. After that, the cross moves along it, stretching its transverse threads. It is curious that this miracle builder calculates every step with geometric precision. The cross takes the intersection of its diagonals as the center of the future web and begins to pull the radial rays. When this stage is also passed, the spider-spider will only have to connect the resulting threads in a circle.
