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A collective web of Agelena consociata in Uganda.. A social spider is a spider species whose individuals form relatively long-lasting aggregations.Whereas most spiders are solitary and even aggressive toward other members of their own species, some hundreds of species in several families show a tendency to live in groups, often referred to as colonies.
Desert Spider, Stegodyphus lineatus, one of the best-described species that participates in matriphagy Matriphagy is the consumption of the mother by her offspring. [1] [2] The behavior generally takes place within the first few weeks of life and has been documented in some species of insects, nematode worms, pseudoscorpions, and other arachnids as well as in caecilian amphibians.
A singular egg sac can contain between 350 and 550 eggs, and webs enclosing them are built in a more compact and sturdy fashion. The 6 mm cocoons are white colored and the females attach them to the side walls of the nest. 13 to 15 days later, the juveniles tear open the cocoon walls and emerge, moving to settle on their mother's back.
Sacrificial mothers: Offspring of the species Stegodyphus lineatus eat their mother. Females of Segestria florentina sometimes die while guarding her eggs and the hatched spiders later eat her. Non-reproductive cannibalism: Some spiders, such as Pholcus phalangioides, will prey on their own kind when food is scarce. [18]
Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae. [2] As of December 2023, 1,100 species have been identified, with 166 genera. [3] The term "tarantula" is usually used to describe members of the family Theraphosidae, although many other members of the same infraorder (Mygalomorphae) are commonly referred to as "tarantulas" or "false tarantulas".
They are distinguished from true spiders by their two pairs of book lungs, vertically oriented chelicerae, and urticating setae. However, like all members of Psalmopoeus , P. irminia lack these urticating hairs but make up for it by having stronger venom compared to other New World tarantulas.
New World tarantulas will, at the moment of danger, turn toward the attacker and briskly rub their hind legs against the opisthosoma throwing the urticating hairs in the direction of the enemy. The cloud of small bristles can get into the mucous membrane of small mammals and cause edema , which can be fatal.
A female of A. hentzi can lay up to 1,000 eggs. [4] The eggs are positioned securely in a web shaped like a hammock, [4] which remains in her burrow, and guarded by her. Eggs hatch in 45 to 60 days. Once spiderlings leave the egg sac, they often stay with the female for several days before dispersing to make their own burrows.