How do writing spiders overwinter, given that adults die off after the first hard frost?
Answer
As eggs sealed within a protective, silken egg sac
The life cycle of the *Argiope aurantia* dictates that the adult spiders, particularly the females responsible for the main webs, do not survive the onset of cold weather. Once the first hard frost occurs, the adult females perish. Survival into the next season is managed entirely by their offspring, which are deposited in protective casings. These eggs are sealed within a robust, silken egg sac, which is carefully attached to low-lying vegetation or stationary structures. This sac acts as insulation, ensuring the developing embryos can endure the winter temperatures and hatch only when spring conditions become favorable.
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