Photos: http://blog.perunature.com/2012/12/new-species-of-decoy-spider-likely.html

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Oh my god... THEY'RE LEARNING!

To hell with the spider! Where do I get a coffee mug with a BLACKBOARD ON IT!?

Isn't the premise of a web that it is invisible to prey? Why would a small spider create a false large spider, would that not defeat the purpose? I await with interest the explanation. Until then, I will name it the "big ego" spider.

Following on from my previous post. I've just thought. Considering the small spider is vibrating the large "false" one, maybe it is trying to attract a mate(bigger is better). In which case, I will still name it the "big ego" spider.

Yeah its strange.. usually when things make themselves look bigger its to scare off a predator or another of the same species ( like cats). But its hard to see how they're not screwing up the whole point of using a web in the first place.. maybe evolution gone crazy like those mad birds..

http://youtu.be/YTR21os8gTA

There are similar spiders, in the genus Cyclosa, that use debris to create a line in their web so that when the spider sits atop the line it is almost impossible to detect, as it looks just like a piece of debris. This protects the spider from two of its main predators: birds and parasitic wasps.

This could be a similar situation, but slightly modified (i.e. evolved), so that the web debris is not just a line, but lines radiating out from a central point. Now, those predators that would've preyed upon or parasitized a small spider (such as the one living in this web), are not drawn to the web of such a large-looking spider.

How about "Golem Spider" because it makes a Golem. Golems are endemic to D&D folklore and secular literature as well as Jewish folklore. Golems are made of mud and debris and they are animated by a magician. It seems a fitting metaphor.

Perhaps there's a similar creature in indigenous amazon folklore to the Golem and if so, I submit that as an alternate name too.

I'd like to know how many webs had 8 legged constructs and if that's the sole instance, I'd go with your fungus theory. I figure you scientifically ruled out it was the exoskeleton of a dead spider.

Why do you call it a 'he'? Did you sex it? Do only females of this species create webs?

GOLEM SPIDER GOLEM SPIDER GOLEM SPIDER GOLEM SPIDER GOLEM SPIDER GOLEM SPIDER GOLEM SPIDER GOLEM SPIDER GOLEM SPIDER GOLEM SPIDER GOLEM SPIDER.

Here's a naming suggestion: Google/Image Search each of the proposed spider names come up and see what kinds of associations (other than to what presently seems to be called 'the decoy spider') already exist.

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag.(show it anyway)

Endemic also to Michael Chabon novels. ;-)

Nice cameo there in the beginning.

My guess is that when the tiny spider feels threatened it goes back to the enormous spider puppet and pulses it to make it seem alive. As you can see in this picture http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NLpnl4DXQEQ/UPjZOADWgMI/AAAAAAAAAY8/8xaAe49p2Cg/s1600/Spider+collage.jpg the web still works at catching flying insects, even with the ridiculous spider puppet in the middle.

Or the spiders are infected by a parasite that WANTS to be eaten: http://bioteaching.wordpress.com/2010/06/12/parasites-affecting-insect-behaviour/

I know it's not an insect, but if it wants to attract a bird to infect the bird by being swallowed, this is exactly how it'd go down.