Flower yellow spider. White spider: is it dangerous to meet him? Flower spider poisonous
Spiders are arthropods that belong to the arachnid class. Representatives of this class, today, there are about 40 thousand species. They differ from each other in the way of life, appearance, type of food. In nature, the most various types spiders: the smallest and harmless spiders (0.37 mm), as well as the most dangerous spiders and even the most poisonous spiders in the world (up to 25 cm). And in this article we will tell you about several amazing and interesting species.
Spider tarantula - Theraphosidae
The tarantula spider is perhaps the most big spider in the world, or rather the family of tarantula spiders (Theraphosidae). Some members of this family can reach 30.5 cm in leg span, such as the king baboon, black and purple tarantula. The body of tarantulas is always densely covered with long and short hairs. Body color can be gray-brown or bright colors(red, blue, red). Tarantulas live in countries with a hot climate (Africa, South America, Oceania, Australia). These spiders inhabit abandoned bird and rodent nests or burrow near tree trunks. Active mainly in the evening. Then they go hunting or catch a running prey nearby. Tarantulas feed on insects, small birds and rodents. These spiders breed in late summer. The female lays her eggs in a web cocoon, which she carries with her and does not lose sight of. They protect the offspring, so that the spiders that come out of the cocoon sit on the mother's abdomen for some time. But soon they begin to lead an independent life. The poison of the tarantula paralyzes the victim and decomposes its insides, then the spider sucks out the contents of the victim's body. For humans, the poison of the tarantula is not dangerous, but quite painful. The bite site bakes, hurts and swells, sometimes turns yellow. But these symptoms go away after a few weeks.
Spider spider - Araneus
Crosses are members of the Orb Weaver family (Araneidae). They belong to the contract reticulum spiders. They have an egg-shaped convex abdomen, on which there is a pattern in the form of a cross. Body color from gray to red. They are covered with long setae, sparsely located along the body and densely covered with short, fine hairs. The length of the body in the male is 10-11 mm, in the female - 17-40 mm. About 30 species of crosses live on the territory of the CIS and Russia. These spiders are active in the evening. They deftly weave a web, where many small insects come across. Mating and oviposition occurs in autumn. The female lays her eggs in a web cocoon and hides it under the bark or other secluded place. In the spring, spiderlings emerge from the cocoon. By the end of summer, a new generation of spiders grows up, and their mother dies. The cross spider is poisonous, but it is not dangerous for humans. His bite is painful, but the burning and swelling at the bite site disappears after a few hours.
Karakurt spider - Latrodectus tredecimguttatus
This is not a big black spider at all. The body of the female (10-20 mm) is completely black, from which she is also called the black widow, the body of the male (4-7 mm) is also black, but with bright red spots on the abdomen (usually 13 spots ). Spider karakurt lives on the territory Central Asia, Iran, Afghanistan, on the banks mediterranean sea, in North Africa, Southern Europe, Kazakhstan, in the south of Russia and Ukraine. They prefer the slopes of ravines, virgin sagebrush, wastelands, banks of ditches. Karakurts populate abandoned rodent burrows and ventilation systems, braiding the entrance with cobwebs. In such dens, females and males mate in late summer. The female lays her eggs in a cocoon of cobwebs and hangs it in her lair. In spring, spiderlings emerge from cocoons. Karakurts feed small insects. Their venom is toxic to large animals and humans. There is burning and swelling at the site of the bite. After 10-15 minutes, the poison spreads throughout the body and the person experiences pain in chest, abdominal part. Dizziness, nausea, sweating, palpitations, delirium also occur. And if you don't provide it in time medical care, available fatal outcome(In most cases). Karakurt bites the skin only by 0.5 mm, therefore it is recommended to burn the bite with a lit match within 2 minutes after the bite.
White karakurt - Latrodectus pallidus
Image of white karakurt
This is a white spider long legs and round belly. The abdomen is white or milky, with 4 depressions. Legs and cephalothorax yellow or light brown. white spider has a body 10-20 mm long. Females are larger than males. White spiders weave a web in the form of a cone, which is connected to a trapping net. They live in North Africa, the Middle East, Iran, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. The white karakurt spider is not aggressive, but its venom is toxic and can cause complications. Children and the elderly are most affected by the poison. Toxicological studies have shown that the venom of the white karakurt resembles the venom of the karakurt (Latrodectus tredecimtugattus). If you are bitten by this spider, you should consult a doctor.
Camel spider - Camel spider
The camel spider has many names: phalanxes, bihorks, salpugs, hairdressers, barbers, wind scorpion. Body (5-7 cm) slightly oblong, light and dark red, densely covered with long, fine hairs. The body shape of a camel spider is similar to a scorpion, especially with its chelicerae (pincers). With them, he is able to bite through a human nail and even small bones of birds. Also, with his chelicerae, he cuts hairs and feathers from his victims and puts them in his dwelling. The camel spider lives in the desert regions of Asia, Africa, America, and Europe. Phalanx spider nocturnal predator. It is practically omnivorous and carnivorous, feeding on various insects, rodents, lizards. The eyes of camel spiders are like those of scorpions: 2 compound eyes in the middle and one each on the sides of the cephalothorax. Compound eyes are highly responsive to movement, so these spiders are incredibly fast, up to 53 cm/s (1.9 km/h).
The camel spider is not poisonous, but it has an incredible painful bite. And also on its chelicerae, the remnants of the tissues of the previous victim can rot, which can cause serious inflammation.
Jumping spiders - Salticidae
Jumping spiders or jumping spiders are a family of araneomorphic spiders, which includes 610 genera and 5800 species. live in tropical forests, in deserts, semi-deserts, in temperate zone forests and mountains. These are small spiders, up to 2 cm long. The body is pubescent. These spiders have well developed eyesight. They have 8 eyes, thanks to which they see 360º degrees. Jumping spiders differ among themselves in body shape, color and range. There are such types of jumping spiders:
- the golden horse spider lives in the southeast of Asian countries, and is characterized by a long abdominal part and a large first pair of legs. The body has a very peculiar golden coloration. The length of the male rarely exceeds 76 mm, and the females have more large sizes;
- Himalayan jumping spiders are the smallest spiders. They live high above sea level, in the Himalayas, where their only prey is random small insects that blow on the mountain slopes. strong wind;
- the green horse spider lives in New Guinea, New South Wales and Queensland. Often found in Western Australia. The male has very bright color, and his body is adorned with long "whiskers" of white color;
- a red-backed species of a horse spider to settle in relatively dry areas. The red spider is often found on coastal dunes or oak woodlands in North America. These red spiders are unique in that they are able to build tube-type silk nests under rocks and on the surface. vine;
- the Hyllus Diardi species has a body up to 1.3 cm long. Compared to other species of horse spiders, it does not weave a web, therefore, to catch prey, it attaches a silk thread to some support, and then jumps from such a kind of "bungee" to its own sacrifice;
- the ant jumping spider looks very similar to an ant and is most often found in tropical zones from Africa to central Australia. Body color can vary from light yellow to black.
Jumping spiders are unique in that they can jump long distances (20 times their body size). Before jumping, they cling to the substrate with a web (thus securing their jump), then push their body out with their hind legs. Jumping spiders are absolutely harmless to humans. They have poison, but it does not affect humans, and their bite is almost painless.
Argiope Bruennichi or spider wasp - Argiope bruennichi
Argiope has a second name spider wasp, as the color of the body and the shape of the abdomen resembles a wasp. Body length 2-3 cm (leg span). The abdomen is elongated with bright stripes, the colors yellow, white, black predominate. The legs are long, thin, mostly in an X-shaped position. The wasp spider lives in Kazakhstan, Asia Minor, Central Asia, China, Korea, India and Japan, North Africa, South and Central Europe, in the Crimea, in the Caucasus. These spiders are also quite common in Russia. Argiope belongs to the family of orb-weaving spiders (Araneidae). It is typical for these spiders to weave a wheel-shaped web, and to have a stabilimentum (zigzag pattern) in the center. This is a forest spider. He very often settles on lawns, forests, gardens, in tall grass, between tree branches. The wasp spider feeds on various insects. Mating occurs after the female molts, while the integument of her body remains soft. The female lays her eggs in a large cocoon (outwardly resembling a seed box of plants) and places it next to the trapping web. Spiderlings emerge from the cocoon at the beginning of autumn and settle downwind on cobwebs. For humans, the wasp spider is not dangerous. Its venom may cause only slight redness, swelling and pain, but these symptoms pass very quickly.
Wolf spiders - Lycosidae
Wolf spiders are a family of araneomorphic spiders with 2367 species. The body color is usually gray-brown. The body is covered with small short hairs. Some species reach more than 3 cm (legspan). The wolf spider lives almost everywhere except Antarctica. He prefers moist forests, meadows, hiding under fallen leaves, stones, wood. They don't spin webs. These are earthen spiders, so they live in a hole, which is only covered with cobwebs inside. If this is a private sector, you can easily stumble upon it in the basement. If there is a garden nearby, it can easily get into your cellar. Active at night. The wolf spider preys on insects or catches those who run near its hole. This spider is a good jumper. He can jump on the victim, insuring himself with a cobweb. Mating takes place in summer. After mating, the female lays her eggs in a cocoon that she wears at the end of her abdomen. After 2-3 weeks, the spiderlings emerge from the cocoon and climb onto the abdomen of the mother's mother. So they sit until they learn to get their own food. The wolf spider is not dangerous to humans. Its sting is equivalent to a bee sting, which causes itching, swelling and redness, which quickly pass.
Harvest spiders - Pholcidae
This family contains about 1000 species of spiders. Harvest spiders have a small body and long thin legs. Body size 2-10 mm. Leg length reaches 50 mm. Body color grayish or reddish. Harvest spiders are ubiquitous. Some species live in people's homes. There they find warm and dry places, mostly near windows. They feed on small insects. These spiders weave a large web in a chaotic manner. The web is not sticky, but when the victim tries to get out of it, it becomes even more tangled. After mating, the females lay their eggs in a web cocoon, which they attach to the side of the trapping nets. For humans, spiders are absolutely harmless. Their venom is harmless and the bite cannot be felt.
Goliath tarantula - Theraphosa blondi
This giant spider considered the largest in the world. The span of his legs reaches 30 cm. In Venezuela (1965), one of the representatives of this species was listed in the Guinness Book of Records. The span of his legs was 28 cm. It is believed that the leg span of Heteropoda maxima is even longer, up to 35 cm. But this species has a small body and long thin legs. So he is small against the backdrop of a massive goliath.
The body of the goliath is light or dark brown in color, densely covered with short hairs. They live in burrows, the entrance of which is covered with cobwebs. This huge spider lives in the tropical forests of Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, northern Brazil. It feeds on various insects, rodents, frogs, lizards and even snakes. The life expectancy of females is 15-25 years, males - 3-6. These spiders are amazing in that they are able to make a hissing sound by rubbing their chelicerae; the ability to shake off the hairs from the abdomen in the face of the enemy, which cause swelling of the mucosa. Also, the goliath tarantula has large and sharp chelicerae (pincers), with which it can bite very painfully. Their poison is not dangerous for humans, the symptoms are the same as after a bee sting.
Runner Spider (Spider Soldier, Banana, Wandering Spider) – Phoneutria
The Brazilian runner spider is the most venomous spider in the world. The length of its body reaches 15 cm. The body is pubescent, gray-brown in color. It lives in Central and South America. The runner spider feeds on insects, frogs, lizards, small birds. Lives in burrows, under leafy litter. But very often secluded places in people's houses become his dwelling. It is often called banana due to the fact that it is often found in banana boxes. These scary spiders have an incredibly toxic venom that causes instant death, which is why they are the most poisonous spiders in the world. Their venom contains the neurotoxin PhTx3, which paralyzes all the muscles in the human body, causes suffocation, and then death. Only 2-6 hours pass between bite and death. Old people and children are most affected by the venom of the runner spider. To date, there is a vaccine that neutralizes the effect of the poison, therefore, in the event of a bite by a runner spider, it is urgent to consult a doctor.
As you can see, representatives of arachnids are so different: some of them are pleasing to the eye, and at the sight of others, blood freezes in the veins, some can be picked up or taken at home as a pet, and some sow fear and bring instant death. Now you know which types of spiders are absolutely harmless, and which ones you need to stay away from. It pleases that dangerous species spiders are not found in our area, but mainly in tropical countries. But you never know what can happen... Nature is absolutely unpredictable.
Only a few people like spiders. These little creatures are often referred to as "disgusting", "nasty" or "creepy", but in fact they absolutely do not deserve so bad reputation. Most spiders are completely harmless to humans. Moreover, many of them are beneficial to humans, because they destroy pests in our homes and gardens. If we still haven't managed to convince you to stop hating these tiny creatures, then the twenty-five adorable spiders that we will tell you about below will convince you that even spiders can be cute, or at least entertaining.
25. Elegant golden jumping spider (Golden jumping spider)
This species of jumping spider, found in Southeast Asia, is known for its long abdomen, long first pair of legs, and unique coloration. Males usually only reach about 0.76 centimeters in length, females are slightly larger.
24. Spider-walker, masquerading as bird droppings (Bird dung crab spider)
This spider is notable for its unique camouflage method. Its body is covered with growths and warts, which make it look like a piece of fresh bird droppings. The spider enhances the imitation of bird droppings by pulling its legs closer to the body and lying motionless on the leaf for many hours.
23. Spiked orb-web spider(Spiny orb weaver)
This spider gets its name from the prominent spikes on its abdomen. These spiders, reaching over 2.5 centimeters in diameter (as measured from spine to spine), are generally harmless to humans.
22. "Smiling" spider (Smiling spider)
The body length of this spider is only 0.5 cm. It is notable for the fact that it corpus luteum a pattern resembling a smiling emoticon is clearly distinguishable. The "smiling" spider is endemic to Oahu (Oahu), Molokai (Molokai), Maui (Maui) and the island of Hawaii, where it lives in tropical forests at an altitude of 304 - 1981 meters.
21. Water spider, or silver spider (Diving bell spider)
This species of spider, best known as the water spider, is the only spider currently known to spend its entire life underwater. Like other spiders, it breathes air, which it draws into a bladder held by hairs on its abdomen and legs. Males of this species are approximately 30 percent larger than females, which is quite unusual for spiders.
20. Himalayan jumping spider
The Himalayan jumping spider is a tiny spider that lives high in the Himalayas. These spiders have been found at altitudes exceeding 6,705 meters above sea level. Its only source of food at such an extreme height is random insects blown by the wind onto the slopes of the mountains.
19. Arrowhead spider
This spider is a brightly colored arachnid with a leg span of only 2.5 centimeters. These tiny creatures, completely harmless to humans, can be found in spring, summer and autumn. They hide in low shrubs about 60 to 90 centimeters above the ground in thickets, wetlands, gardens, and grass marshes.
18. Argiope Brünnich or wasp spider (Wasp spider)
Like all orb weaving spiders, this spider is not venomous. Wasp spiders weave their web between the grass at a height of up to 30 centimeters. Adult females are much larger than males.
17. Theraphosa Blond or goliath tarantula (Goliath bird eating spider)
The goliath tarantula is the second largest spider in size (after the giant huntsman spider) in terms of leg span, however, in terms of body weight, it is the largest in the world. Despite its name, the spider does not usually eat birds, it feeds on insects. It is poisonous, but its venom is relatively harmless and its effect is comparable to that of a wasp sting.
16. Green jumping spider
Found in Queensland, New Guinea, New South Wales, the Northern Territory and Western Australia, this species is one of the largest jumping spiders. The males are strikingly brightly colored and adorned with long white "whiskers".
15. Golden orb-web spider (Writing spider)
This species, which is commonly found in most countries Central America and regions of the Antilles (from Mexico to Panama), is distinguished by bright, rich colors abdomen. Females are three to four times larger than males. Their leg span can reach more than 12 centimeters.
14. Ladybug mimic spider
These spiders are believed to mimic ladybugs because ladybugs are not palatable to birds and other predators and are generally avoided by predators. Despite its charming appearance, it little creature actually belongs to a group that includes tarantulas and black widows.
13. Red-backed jumping spider
A red-backed jumping spider that lives in relatively dry environments such as coastal dunes or oak trees. woodlands western North America, is one of the largest and most commonly found jumping spiders. This species builds conspicuous tubular silk nests on the ground under rocks and pieces of wood and sometimes on vines.
12. Spider-mason or spider-digger (Trapdoor spider)
Stonemason spiders are notable for their unique hunting technique. These medium-sized spiders build burrows with a hatch-like door, which they usually make of earth, vegetation, and silk, and then lean halfway out of the burrow to wait for their prey.
11. Hyllus Diardi (Heavy jumping spider)
Like other jumping spiders, this species does not build webs. Instead, it hunts on the move, attaching a silk thread to some sort of support before "bungee jumping" onto suitable prey. The body length of this spider reaches 1.27 centimeters.
10. Peacock spider
This species of spider, whose habitat is limited to certain areas of Australia, is one of the most colorful and vibrant. Colored in bright shades of red, blue and black, the males have a trapdoor with white hairs on their abdomen that they can pull down. They use it to attract females during the mating season.
9. Spider-Ogre (Ogre-faced spider)
These spiders, which live almost all over the world in the tropics, got their name from the supposed resemblance of their appearance to that of the mythological creature, the ogre. Spiders make a web that they hang between their front legs and when prey approaches, they stretch the web, which becomes two or three times its original size, and throw it over the prey.
8. Hersiliid spider (Tree stump spider)
This spider species native to South America is known for its belly unusual shape, which looks like a growing branch. This feature is likely used either as a hunting method or as a hiding place from predators.
7. Spider-horse, imitating an ant (Ant - mimic jumping spider)
Ant-mimicking spiders are mostly found in the tropics from Africa to Australia, with some species also found in the New World. Their color varies from black to yellow, depending on what kind of ants they imitate. One of African species spiders mimics one kind of ant in its immature state and a completely different kind in adulthood.
6. Horned orb-web spider(Long-horned orb-weaver)
Orbweb spiders are three-clawed flat web builders with a sticky coil of silk to catch prey. As a rule, in the evening, the spider eats the old web, rests for about an hour, and then spins a new web in the same place.
5. Australian garden orb weaver
Found throughout the coastal regions of Australia's eastern states, these spiders are notable for their ability to change their color with each molt to better match the background they rest against during the day.
4. Viciria with a wide jaw (Wide - jawed viciria)
This spider lives in garden foliage and in the wastelands of Singapore and Indonesia. Both sexes reach approximately 0.76 - 1.27 centimeters in length. Viciria is a colorful member of the jumping spider family.
3. Mirror spider (Sequined spider)
This spider, also known as the Australian stained glass spider, is found throughout the Australian states. These spiders are one of the smallest species. The body length of males is approximately 0.3 centimeters, and females - 0.4 centimeters.
2. Eight-spotted crab spider
This species of spider, discovered in Singapore in 1924, is one of the most colorful. Its body length is approximately 2.5 centimeters, and it is also one of the most large species sidewalk spiders.
1. Regal jumping spider
The royal jumping spider is the largest representative of jumping spiders in North America. The body length of the male is 1.27 centimeters, and the female is 1.52 centimeters. Males and females are easy to distinguish. Males are always black with a pattern of white spots and stripes. Females often have a similar pattern. However, they differ in color, and their color varies from shades of gray to bright orange.
Animals
arthropods
arachnids
sidewalk spiders
Mizumen
Mizumena clubfoot
Misumena vatia(Clerck, 1757)
Mizumena clubfoot, or flower spider (lat. Misumena vatia) - a spider of the sidewalk spider family ( Thomisidae).
Description
The female is 9-11 mm long; male - 3-4 mm. The abdomen is wide and thick, its greatest width in the posterior third. The color of the abdomen is extremely variable. Females are most often white or yellow, there are also greenish and pinkish individuals, the cephalothorax is reddish-yellow, with a white median field. In white specimens, reddish spots are sometimes located on the sides of the abdomen in the anterior part. The color of the spider changes depending on the surrounding background. In order to change color from white to yellow, the spider needs from 10 to 25 days, the reverse transformation takes place in 5-6 days. In males, the cephalothorax is dark brown or brown-black, with a white median stripe. The abdomen is white or yellow above, bordered black on the sides, with two dark parallel strokes in the back. Legs are spiky.
Spreading
The species is widely distributed throughout the former Soviet Union, in Europe and North America.
Habitat and lifestyle
Sexually mature individuals appear in late spring, males live until mid-summer, and females until mid-autumn. They live on white and yellow flowers (especially often on plants of the buttercup genus, European bathing suit and Siberian hogweed). Usually these spiders sit in ambush inside the flower, go next to it. Due to the thick abdomen, resembling a petal, the spider is not visible in flower thickets. Males are also found in grass and bushes.
Literature
- Azheganova N. S. Brief guide to spiders (Aranei) of the forest and forest-steppe zone of the USSR. - L .: Nauka, 1968. - S. 117
- Saifulina R. R., Kartsev V. M. Spiders middle lane Russia: Atlas-determinant. - M.: CJSC "Fiton +", 2001. - S. 410
- Tyshchenko V.P. Key to spiders in the European part of the USSR. - L .: Publishing house "Nauka", 1971. - S. 118 (Series "Determinants for the fauna of the USSR", issue 105)
| Invertebrates | |
| Vertebrates | |
| paleofauna |
territorial division
We have an unusual spider. Not only does it not weave webs, it is also a chameleon spider that can change its color depending on the environment. This is about flower spider, or scientifically misumena clubfoot(lat. Misumena vatia). As the name implies, this spider hunts, waiting for its prey (pollinating insects) on flowers. He succeeds in disguising himself thanks to his color - this spider is white, but, in the case of hunting for yellow flowers, it can change color to yellow. This is what the females of this species look like. Males are much smaller and darker in color. I happened to observe the following scene: among the flowers of the bird cherry, a large white spider caught prey - a mosquito-thick-foot. Like many other spider species, the male flower spider is much smaller than the female, and can be accidentally confused with prey. Other spiders get out of this situation by bringing a gift of prey wrapped in a web, but here the male sneaks up on the female while she is busy with the captured mosquito. And while the "bride" is busy with dinner, the "groom" manages to saddle the female's belly.
flower spider(lat. Misumena vatia) or misumena clubfoot- a species of spiders of the family sidewalk spiders (Thomisidae). Males and females of this species look different. Scientifically, this division is called sexual dimorphism.
Males are 4 mm long, while females are up to 10 mm long. In the male, the cephalothorax (prosoma) is blackish in color, the abdomen (opisthosoma) is white to yellowish in color with two dark long stripes. Both front pairs of legs with wide stripes of black and brown, both hind pairs of legs of the main color of the abdomen.
In females, the color of the entire body varies from bright yellow to yellow-green and white. Often there are two long red stripes on the sides of the abdomen. The species is distributed from arctic to subtropical zones Holarctic from Ireland and Portugal to Japan, and from Alaska to the southern border of the United States. With the exception of Iceland, the species is found throughout Europe. The species inhabits open habitats with large quantity flowering plants. Sexually mature spiders can be found from May to July.
The spider lies in wait for its prey on the flowers. It can change its color depending on the color of the flowers. This ability is only sexually mature females. They control the change in body pigmentation with their organs of vision. When stained yellow, a liquid, yellow coloring matter enters the cells of the epidermis, when stained in White color the pigment is transferred to inner part body. The yellow pigment can also be excreted during a long stay on white flowers with a bowel movement.
Flower spiders are predators, they are not afraid to attack even insects larger than themselves. Spiders wait for their prey for a long time, disguised as terrain (flowers). They are very mobile and when the long-awaited profit appears, they quickly grab it with their feet, inject their paralyzing poison into the body of the victim. Then, after a while, all the nutrients are sucked out of it, leaving one shell.
The prey of the flower spider are various pollinating insects, such as hoverflies, bees, wasps, butterflies or small beetles. They are often an order of magnitude larger than the spider itself. The spider grabs its prey with strong, widely spaced front legs and delivers a lightning-fast bite to the head. The web does not spin.
Mating takes place in early summer. When the male finds the female, he climbs on her back from the front. He then moves to the ventral side of the female and, in a belly-to-belly position, alternately inserts his pedipalps into the female's genital opening. Then he again climbs onto the back of the female in order to mate with her again after a break. Eventually, the male leaves the female. Egg cocoons are hidden from the sides of the flowers. Young spiders hibernate in the ground.
You can meet the sidewalk spider in any part of Europe. They move exclusively sideways, for which they got their name. It will not be easy to see them - thanks to their coloring, they, like chameleons, can merge with environment. They prefer to live among flowering grasses, which allows them to catch butterflies, flies and bees, which make up the diet of these spiders. Depending on the weather, they can change their place of residence. During the rainy season, they prefer to seek shelter under the wide leaves of plants.
Body structure and coloration
Females are twice the size of males and can reach a length of 1-1.2 cm. Modified forelimbs allow spiders to move quickly and instantly pull food into their "embraces". The color of these amazing creatures comes in almost all shades - white, pink, lemon, brown, green, red. Most prominent representatives of this species live inside flower buds. Darker ones, with spots and patterns, live on the bark of trees and the ground. The white sidewalk spider is able to merge with the petals, as it has not only a milky body, but also eyes of the same shade.
Peculiarities
Sidewalker spiders do not spin webs to catch flying insects. Female spiders make sacs out of this sticky substance, in which they lay eggs. Also, with the help of a web, they descend from higher plants to lower ones. But the most amazing thing is that with the onset of autumn, they use it as a vehicle. Having saddled bags, they are able to go on a long journey with the first gust of wind. In warm and dry weather, they cover a distance of several kilometers. Sometimes on one cobweb you can see a whole family of spiders. To stop at a place they like, they simply release a cobweb on the nearest tree or plant.
Hunter Tactics
Despite their size, spiders are not afraid to attack more large insects. Like real hunters they can for a long time sit in ambush, waiting for the victim with open paws. As soon as a butterfly or a wasp lands on a flower, they instantly grab them and bite them in vulnerabilities. After injecting poison, the flower spider proceeds to the meal. However, if the hunter has not eaten for a long time, then his behavior changes dramatically. He restlessly runs through the leaves, looking for the victim and moving his paws in anticipation of dinner. At the sight of an approaching insect, the spider freezes with its legs wide open. From the side it seems that he opened his friendly arms. Thanks to the coloring, they manage to remain unnoticed, and tactics bring the desired result.
reproduction
In early June, sidewalk spiders begin to mating season. Males, like real gentlemen, take care of the female. If she considers the candidate worthy, then mating takes place. After a short break, the procedure is repeated, and after a while the female attaches the cocoons wrapped in cobwebs to the back of the leaves. Although it is not common for this species to live surrounded by relatives, there are cases when a whole family of spiders lives on one plant.
Is it dangerous for humans?
The poison of this predator is very toxic and can instantly paralyze the victim. But fortunately for man, his concentration is not strong enough. Contrary to popular belief, representatives of this species, having bright color They don't attack people themselves. They perfectly feel the danger and will not take risks, knowing that they will lose this battle. Do not be afraid if a spider bites a pet - your pet will most likely not even notice. But smaller representatives of the fauna may feel a slight malaise and disorientation. Mice, rats, hamsters and other rodents should not be kept near sidewalk spiders.
Such an animal can become an excellent pet. They are unpretentious in food and do not require much space. The terrarium must be at least 40 cm long and 30 cm wide. Special attention it is worth paying attention to humidity - the sidewalk spider will die if it ends up in a dry, closed container. The temperature should be within 20 degrees. As food, you need to select insects that do not exceed the size of the spider. Flies, cockroaches, crickets are ideal. With proper care, spiders live 2-3 years.
- Some species have the ability to slowly change their color.
- Before mating, the male brings his lady a gift in the form of an edible insect.
- Some people bring home sidewalkers on purpose to get rid of cockroaches.
- Spiders are able to distinguish the sounds of music and even "dance".
- Distinguish relative at a distance of up to 5 meters.
- For their manner of moving sideways, they are called crab spiders.
- Some species hunt exclusively at night, waiting for moths inside the flower.
- They do not attack insects that are much smaller than the body of a spider.
- Farmers move sidewalkers to their fields to get rid of pests.
- Due to the small size of the fangs, they are not able to bite through human skin.