What is the name of the dense, zigzag silk pattern found at the hub of the Argiope aurantia web?
Answer
Stabilimentum
The unique, highly recognizable feature at the center of the vertical orb web built by the *Argiope aurantia* is called the stabilimentum. This structure is characterized by a dense pattern of silk laid out in a distinctive zigzag configuration that runs vertically through the hub, which is the area where the spider typically rests while waiting for prey. It is this prominent silken marking that gives the species its common moniker, the 'writing spider,' because the pattern resembles handwriting or symbols etched into the web structure.
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