Eunuch Spiders

We all heard of eunuchs. But what about eunuch spiders? Impotent males? Castrated males?? How did they reach such a state?

Had a day off from reservist and found myself at Dairy Farm looking for interesting bugs. There, I found a male St Andrew’s Cross Spider (Argiope sp.) but with it’s palps missing. One could almost think that it was a female spider with the absence of the palps.

This male Argiope could have lost both it’s palps in a mating sequence, therefore becoming a complete eunuch. They sometimes stay in the female’s web to chase away other males that may arrive. This ensures that the first male remains as the only male parent! (Information kindly shared by David Court)

UpdateThere were some studies that shows a higher endurance and higher chances of success in a fight for eunuch spiders, possibly due to the lighter weight.
Source: Male Spider Ditches Penis, Gains Fighting Power

#1 The male St Andrew’s Cross Spider. Normally the palps would be swollen and visible from this angle, but they are gone now.

#2 A slightly different angle. Somehow, this male wasn’t near to any web of a female. It might have been separated earlier.

#3 Ant-mimicking sac spider (Corinnomma severum)

#4 This malayan water monitor lizard clouded monitor lizard (Thanks to Ivan for correcting this) came out to greet me

#5 Derbidae with a very odd purplish hue

#6 Slight shift in angle gives it a very different background

#7 Closer view

#8 Lichen Huntsman (Sparassidae) shot under natural light. I almost pressed my hands on it while shooting the Derbidae above. These are quite good at camouflaging themselves on tree barks.

The complete album can be viewed here.

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