Gigantic Banana Spiders on Okinawa by Shawn Miller

Posted on November 23, 2019 by Admin11

The golden orb weaver (Nephila pilipes) is the largest spider found on Okinawa. They can be found in parks, forests and gardens. This massive spider is fairly common on Okinawa.

Always look up!

They usually make their web up high in trees. I have also seen their web in the middle of a trail at eye level.

Scientific name: Nephila pilipes
Common Name: Golden orb weaver / banana spider
Distribution: Ryukyu Islands
Habitat: Forests, gardens and parks
Diet: Insects
Average Size: Female 17-20cm

Their web is extremely strong. They have been know to catch small bats, cicadas and a variety of large insects

This species displays sexual dimorphism, The female is much larger than the male.

Nephila pilipes fluoresces under ultraviolet light. The fluorescence serves as a warning sign for large animals. Making a spider web this size takes a lot of time and effort.

This site is also designed to help people identify the beautiful animals of Okinawa, basically to serve as an online nature reference guide. If you would like to make a contribution to support my mission, please click on the donation link paypal.me/maketheswitch4nature

Your donations will help conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines. Thank you for your support, Shawn M Miller.

#MakeTheSwitch4Nature

Spiders, Webs and Warning Signs – Okinawa, Japan

Posted on August 25, 2019 by Admin11

In the last few months, I have been searching for spiders with unique web designs. The stabilimentum serves a different function for different species of spiders. The Oval St. Andrew’s Cross Spider is a master at designing its web with an obvious warning sign. Researchers believe the X-like stabilimentum serves as a warning to prevent birds from destroying the web.

Theories why orb-weavers have specialized web decorations

Stabilize the web
Make the spider look much larger
Disguise itself / Camouflage
lure prey in (ultraviolet light)
Serve as a warning sign for large birds
An attractive piece of art/lure in a mate

Argiope aemula -X-factor

Octonoba yaeyamensis has a very unique stabilimentum. The pattern reminds me of the mysterious design the Amami pufferfish constructs to lure in the female.

What purpose does this design serve?

Hide under the web /disguise itself
Beautiful design to lure in a mate or insects
Deterrent- scare off larger animals to prevent web damage

Octonoba yaeyamensis

When I first found this spider it was hiding under the stabilimentum. It serves as camouflage and protection from ultraviolet light (sunblock strand). I found it in the open sunlight on a branching leaf.

Octonoba yaeyamensis

Another strange design possibly used to attract a mate or hypnotize insects.

Cyclosa ginnaga (female)

Eriophora yanbaruensis has a simple design, possibly used to attract a mate.

Eriophora yanbaruensis

Gleaming light created this beautiful spider web prism.

Spider web prism

I have always wondered if spiders are unknown musicians. Their web has to produce some type of sound frequency. The tension of the web gently plucked by the spider or just blowing in the wind.

Do spiders use attractive frequencies to lure in insects or mates?

Spider web prism

The next step is to photograph the x-shaped stabilimentum under ultraviolet light. stay tuned to see my results.

My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

Your donations will help conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines. Thank you for your support, Shawn M Miller.

#MakeTheSwitch4Nature

The Fishing Spiders of the Yanbaru forest By Shawn Miller

Posted on February 8, 2019 by Admin11

The Okinawan fishing spider (Dolomedes orion) is one of the most unique spiders we have on the Island of Okinawa.

My fishing hole

Most fishing spiders are ambush predators. They have the ability to catch prey on the land, on the surface of the water and even underwater. Fishing spiders use vibrations to attract insects like water striders. The spiders vibrations simulate a helpless insect floating on the surface of the water.

Dolomedes sp, Iriomote Island

I have seen amazing photographs of these fishing spiders eating frogs. I personally have observed Dolomedes orion eating insects only.

Dolomedes orion hunting

The beautiful color contrast allows them to blend in with their surrounding environment to avoid being seen.

Dolomedes orion feeding

It is thought that the white reflective leg sections are used to lure in prey when hunting during the daytime, but do they serve a purpose at night?

MYN Technique

Look close, the female fishing spider handles her egg sack with extreme care.

Female protecting her egg sack

Meet Spi-Zilla, This is an average healthy specimen found in the Yanbaru forest.

Huge spiders on Okinawa

I used my iPhone to compare the size of this huge spider, I kept my distance for sure.

Iphone comparison, Thanks R Shobe

Please be respectful to the wildlife. If they show any signs of stress or aggression give them their space and move on. Learn more about the Huntsmen spiders of Okinawa

My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

Your donations will help worldwide conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines. Thank you for your support. Shawn M Miller.

Psychedelic Spiders of Okinawa by Shawn Miller

Posted on July 30, 2018 by Admin11

I have been photographing fluorescence for over five years now. Mainly underwater but lately I have been testing the technique on land. I often find insects, spiders, and plants that fluoresce using a specialized Light&Motion Sola Nightsea light. Some of the micro-spiders fluoresce brightly under blue light, the challenge is to get an acceptable photograph.

Below are some comparison photographs of spiders. The first photograph was taken under blue light and the second under white light using on-camera flash. All the spiders were photographed in their natural habitat on the beautiful Island of Okinawa.

Yanbaru jumping spider

The custom Light & Motion fluorescence setup for these land-based subjects.

Fluorescence photography setup -Shawn Miller

The giant wood spiders (Nephila maculata) of Okinawa fluoresce under UV light.

giant wood spiders (Nephila maculata)

Giant wood spiders (Nephila maculata)

I used my nauticam underwater setup with NIGHTSEA’s fluorescence excitation filters to photograph the wood spiders.

Nauticam Fluorescence setup

My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

Your donations will help conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines. Thank you for your support, Shawn M Miller.

#MakeTheSwitch4Nature

Light&Motion exploration lights – https://www.lightandmotion.com/the-perfect-light

Okinawa Nature Photography

沖縄自然写真 By Shawn Miller

Tag Archives: Spiders of Okinawa

Gigantic Banana Spiders on Okinawa by Shawn Miller

Spiders, Webs and Warning Signs – Okinawa, Japan

The Fishing Spiders of the Yanbaru forest By Shawn Miller

Psychedelic Spiders of Okinawa by Shawn Miller