About Gasteracantha diardi (Lucas, 1835)
This spider species is Gasteracantha diardi, first described by Lucas in 1835. Female Gasteracantha diardi have abdomens that are much wider than they are long, creating a distinct horizontal appearance that is emphasized by their abdominal spines. Females have three pairs of spines on the abdomen. The first, anterior pair of spines is typically small and conical. The second, median pair is long and strong; these spines are generally positioned horizontally, but often curve slightly backward and downward, or occasionally curve slightly forward. The rearmost pair of spines is always well-developed, and has an intermediate length between the first two spine pairs. Adult females are usually dark red or brown, and may have pale yellowish or whitish horizontal stripes across the upper surface of the abdomen, as seen in recorded specimens from Thailand. The upper surface of the abdomen emits blue fluorescence when exposed to ultraviolet light. The known distribution of Gasteracantha diardi covers southern China, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Borneo, and other Sunda Islands that are part of Indonesia.
