Arachnids on stamps: Papua New Guinea (2010)

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Papua New Guinea (2010)

Date of issue: November 3rd, 2010
Name of issue: Spiders
Number of arachnid related stamps in issue: 9/9

A very nice and extensive series on spiders. Note the odd shape of the stamps. Here is the information from the postal services booklet (please note that the information about the animals may or may not be accurate, I am simply re-typing the information).

The jungles of Papua New Guinea is home to spiders that dwell on tree tops (among leafy engulfs), on tree trunks and branches, in grasslands and under-ground as well. Amazingly, the vast virgin forests continue to keep every scientists guessing as to how many different more spider species this fascinating land have yet to hold because a considerable number of new species that are still being discovered.

Whilst some species are regarded as harmful and dangerous to some extend, the Nephila species are known for consumption and the webs are practically very useful to some societies in Papua New Guinea. For example, in Lufa district of Eastern Highlands Province, cooked Nephila spiders are considered a delicacy while the Kitava islanders of Milne Bay use the spider silk of orb web as bait to catch long toms (long nose fish) when kite-trawling (a method of fishing using kites to entice fish with its movement).

The following spiders are mostly found in Luf district in the Eastern Highlands Province and are also common in tropical forest and grassland region throughout Papua New Guinea.

1. Nephila philipes (Family Nephilidae) *(note spelling mistake in booklet, it should be N. pilipes)

This is a species of golden orb-web spider. It is commonly found in primary and secondary forests and gardens. The female are large and can grow up to a body size of 30-50mm, while males can grow up to 6-5mm, Nephila spin the largest webs of all orb weaving spiders, and the webs come in golden color from which the name Golden Orb Weaver is derived.

Michel #: ?
Scott #: 1504
order: Araneae
family: Nephilidae
Nephila pilipes (Fabricius, 1793)

2. Argiope aemula (Family Araneidae)

A spider in the genus Argiope which often go by the name "Garden or Writing spiders", are large and colorful spiders that build their nests around homes and gardens.

Michel #: ?
Scott #: 1505
order: Araneae
family: Araneidae
Argiope aemula (Walckenaer, 1841)

3. Gasteracantha (Family Araneidae)

Gasteracantha is a small, colourful spider with six small spikes protuding from its abdomen. This species is found in gardens, fields and forests areas mostly troughout the highlands region.

Michel #: ?
Scott #: 1506
order: Araneae
family: Araneidae
*Gasteracantha sp.
Gasterocantha (on stamp)

4. Cyrtophora mollucensis (Family Araneida)

Genus Cyrtophora, although technically are orb-web spiders (family Araneidae), do not build orb webs. Their tent-like, highly complex non-sticky webs are sometimes considered a precursor of the simplified orb-web. These webs are aligned horizontally, with network of supporting threads above them. These spiders often live in colonies. Females have a body lenght of about 10mm.

Michel #: ?
Scott #: 1507
order: Araneae
family: Araneidae
Cyrtophora moluccensis (Doleschall, 1857)

5. Leugauge celebesiana (Family Araneidae) *(note spelling mistake in booklet, it should be Leucauge celebesiana, also note the mistake on the family, it should be Tetragnathidae)

Members of this family build delicate orb-webs with open hubs. The webs are suspended horizontally or in an inclined plane. The body and leg shapes and the silver, black and yellow markings of Leucauge females make identification of the genus relatively easy. This species is found in forests and grasslands.

Michel #: ?
Scott #: 1508a
order: Araneae
family: Tetragnathidae
Leucauge celebesiana (Walckenaer, 1841)

6. Holconia (Family Sparassidae)

Huntsman spiders (Sparassidae, formerly Heteropodidae) come from a family of spiders also known as the giant crab spiders, due to their appearance. Larger specimens of these spiders are also sometimes referred to as wood spiders, due to their preference for inhabiting in woody places (forest, tree barks, woodpiles, etc).

Michel #: ?
Scott #: 1508b
order: Araneae
family: Sparassidae
Holconia sp.

7. Gasteracantha (Family Araneidae)

Gasteracantha is a small, colourful spider with six small spikes protuding from its abdomen. This species is found in gardens, fields and forests areas mostly troughout the highlands region.

Michel #: ?
Scott #: 1508c
order: Araneae
family: Araneidae
*Gasteracantha sp.
Gasterocantha (on stamp)

8. Ocrisiona (Family Salticidae)

This is a jumping spider family (Salticidae) and lives in a variety of habitats. Tropical forests harbor the most species, but they are also found in tropical scrubs and gardens.

Michel #: ?
Scott #: 1508d
order: Araneae
family: Salticidae
Ocrisiona sp.

9. Nephila philipes (Family Nephilidae) *(note spelling mistake in booklet, it should be N. pilipes)

This is a species of golden orb-web spider. It is commonly found in primary and secondary forests and gardens. The female are large and can grow up to a body size of 30-50mm, while males can grow up to 6-5mm, Nephila spin the largest webs of all orb weaving spiders, and the webs come in golden color from which the name Golden Orb Weaver is derived.