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Spider black and white. Is the cross spider dangerous for humans. The structure of the spider cross

Spider spider belongs to the family of circle weavers. It was named such an unusual name because of the large visible cross on the back, formed by light spots.

The abdomen of the "flycatcher" is of the correct round shape, most often brown, but it is also found white cross, whose abdomen is light yellow or beige. Long paws are very sensitive to the slightest vibrations of the web.

At spider spider four pairs of eyes, located so that the insect has a 360-degree view. However, his vision leaves much to be desired, the spider can only see shadows and fuzzy outlines of objects.

Types of cross spiders very many - about 2000, only 30 of them are found in Russia and the CIS, and all of them can boast a pronounced cross on the upper abdomen.

In the photo, the white cross spider

The size of a female individual can vary from 1.5 to 4 centimeters (depending on belonging to a particular species), male - up to 1 centimeter. Surprising is also the mixed cavity of the body of the insect - the mixocoel, which appeared as a result of the connection of the primary cavity with the secondary.

One of the most common species is the common cross. The female of this species can reach 2.5 centimeters in length, the males are much smaller - up to 1 centimeter. The abdomen of the males is rather narrow, while the females are large and round. The color may vary slightly, adjusting to the lighting at a given time.

The body is covered with a special wax, which helps to retain moisture. Spider spider female has reliable protection - a cephalothoracic shield, on which the eyes are located.

Pictured is a female cross spider

Preferred habitats are always quite damp and damp. These can be forests, fields and meadows near swamps and ponds, groves, gardens, and sometimes human buildings.

The nature and lifestyle of the cross spider

Most often, for a permanent place of life, the spider chooses the crown of a tree. Thus, he immediately arranges both a hunting net (between branches) and a shelter (in dense leaves). Spider spider web clearly visible even at some distance, it is always round and even and quite large.

The household cross carefully monitors the condition of the threads in the web and be sure to completely renew it every few days. If a large web becomes a trap for an insect that the spider is “not up to”, it breaks the threads around its prey and removes it.

Replacing an old trap with a new one most often occurs at night, so that by morning it will be ready for hunting. This distribution of time is also justified by the fact that at night the enemies of the spider sleep, without presenting a danger, it can do its job calmly.

In the photo, the web of a cross spider

It would seem how an almost blind spider can build such complex buildings in complete darkness! However, in this case, it is not based on sight, but on touch, which is why the network is always so even. Moreover, the female weaves the network according to strict canons - the same distance between the turns is always observed in it, there are 39 radii, 35 turns and 1245 connecting points.

Scientists have found that this ability is inherent at the genetic level, the spider does not need to learn this - it performs all movements unconsciously, automatically. This explains the ability of young spiders to weave the same web as adults.

Consequences of a spider bite can be unpredictable, since its poison is toxic not only to insects, but also to vertebrates. The composition of the poison includes hemotoxin, which has a negative effect on the red blood cells of animals.

It is worth noting that dogs, horses and sheep are resistant to spider bite. Due to the fact that the poison is toxic, and also that spider spider bites and can even bite through human skin, there is an opinion that it is dangerous for people.

But, these are all prejudices. Firstly, the amount of poison released during one bite is too small to harm the large mammal that man is. Secondly, the poison acts reversibly on vertebrates. So for a man spider spider is not dangerous(the exception is people with individual intolerance).

Spider spider nutrition

The main diet of the crosses consists of a variety of flies, and other small insects, of which he can eat about a dozen at a time. From the spider web wart, a sticky substance is first released, which only becomes a strong thread in the air.

For one trapping net, a cross can produce and spend about 20 meters of silk. Moving along the web, its owner touches only the radial threads, which are not sticky, so he does not stick himself.

During the hunt, the spider waits in the center of the trap or is located on the signal thread. When the victim sticks to the net and tries to get out, the web begins to vibrate, the hunter feels even the slightest vibration with sensitive limbs.

The spider injects a dose of poison into the prey and, depending on the situation, can eat it immediately or leave it for later. If the insect acts as a reserve source of food, the spider wraps it in cobwebs and hides it securely in its shelter.

If an insect that is too large or poisonous falls into the trap, it breaks the web and gets rid of it. The spider avoids contact with insects that lay their eggs on other insects or animals, as the large abdomen of the spider can be a great place for larvae.

The process of spider digestion occurs in the victim's body with the help of digestive juice. The cross, like other spiders, cannot digest food on its own.

Reproduction and lifespan of the cross spider

Male cross spider small, nondescript and most often dies after its very first mating. That's why on the picture most often the female cross- big and beautiful.

The search for a spider companion begins in the fall. It is located on the edge of her web and creates a slight vibration. The female recognizes the signal (does not mistake it for prey) and approaches the spider.

After mating, the female prepares for laying, weaving a reliable, durable cocoon, where later in the fall she will lay all her eggs. Then the mother securely hides the cocoon, in the place chosen by her, the eggs hibernate, and only in the spring do the spiderlings appear.

All summer they grow up, going through several molting processes and are ready for procreation only by the next autumn. The female usually survives to this point.

In the photo, the cocoon of the cross spider

In an ordinary cross, the breeding season begins a little earlier - in August. The male also looks for a mate, attaches a signal thread to her web, pulls it, creating a certain vibration by which the female recognizes him.

If she is ready for mating, she leaves her place in the center of the trap and descends to the male. After a few seconds, the action is over, however, in some cases it may be repeated. In autumn, the female lays in a cocoon and hides it, then dies. After overwintering, spiderlings are born in spring. In the summer they grow up and survive another wintering.

Only by the next summer they become adults and are ready for procreation. That is why a clear answer to the question " how long does a cross spider live» No - it all depends on the belonging of a particular individual to a particular species.

The spider-cross is an aranelmorphic spider of the orb-weaver family that lives all over the world, except for the southern and northern latitudes. This is one of the most common representatives of the species.

There are at least 2000 species of these arachnids; only a few dozen representatives can be found on the territory of Russia.

Description of the spider

Where do they live

Traditional habitats of cross-spiders:

  • Smolensk region;
  • Astrakhan region;
  • Rostov region;
  • The Republic of Mordovia.

Habitats:

  • shrubs near water bodies;
  • groves;
  • forests;
  • fields;
  • gardens;
  • rarely cornices of houses.
Krestovik prefers damp damp places.

Appearance

The representative of arachnids got its name due to a noticeable cross on the upper part of the abdomen, formed from light brown or white spots. The spider itself has a round brown abdomen, four pairs of sensitive legs, four paired eyes directed in different directions for an excellent overview of the area around. At the same time, the vision is fuzzy, the spider distinguishes only the shadows and outlines of objects.

The size of the females of this spider reaches 17–26 mm, which exceeds the size of males (10–11 mm) almost twice.

Periodically, the spider molts, discarding the chitinous cover. At this time, it is growing.

What do they eat

Spiders are carnivorous, like most spiders. Their main food is flies, midges, and mosquitoes, which they lie in wait in the center of the web or on the signal thread. Insects stick to web, when trying to free themselves, they create a vibration of the web, which the spider feels with legs that have an organ of smell. It approaches prey and kills it with a venomous chelicera sting. The cross can start dinner immediately or leave it in reserve, entangling it with cobwebs and hiding its prey in the foliage.

Spiders have a great appetite. During the day, he eats food equal to his own weight. The cross is constantly hunting. If he goes to rest, then not far from the network, under the foot there is always a signal thread.

When an insect unsuitable for feeding a cross (poisonous or too large) enters the net, it tries to get rid of it by breaking off the web. The cross is afraid of flies and wasps that lay their eggs on living creatures. For example, some representatives of these insects leave eggs on the back of a spider, thereby making it food for the developing larva.

How they breed

Males are looking for a female with a web, usually in late autumn. Having found a suitable one, the cross creates a thread for itself on the edge of the web so that the female notices it and can safely go down. The female guesses that it is not the prey that gives her signals, and goes down. The male dies immediately after mating. The female lays her eggs in a special cocoon, which she creates from the web. For some time she carries the cocoon on herself, then hangs it in a secluded place. Spiders born into the world spend the winter in a cocoon and only emerge from it in spring.

The cubs become sexually mature in summer, and the female dies.

At the end of the abdomen of the cross, there are arachnoid warts, from which a substance that hardens in air stretches, forming threads. It takes about 20 meters of thread to create one web.

Spiders weave a web of two types:

  • for a cocoon - silky and soft;
  • for catching insects - sticky and thin.

The web for hunting is vertical, wheel-shaped, consists of a strong thin thread. Hunters weave webs at night, so that by morning the net for catching insects will be ready.

Interesting! The spider itself does not stick to the web, because it moves only along radial non-adhesive threads, trying not to touch sticky areas. At one time, the cross can eat more than 10 insects.

Benefits of a spider

The cross spider benefits a person by eating a huge amount.

Since ancient times, various items of clothing and jewelry have been made from the web. But such production did not reach large-scale scales, this would require entire spider farms, and this is unprofitable and very difficult.

The web is also used in optical devices where thin fibers are needed. The use of the web in microbiology is known. Scientists successfully use it as an air analyzer.

Interesting! It has been proven that the cross net can destroy millions of bacteria without harming animal cells, so it is used as a disinfectant and antibacterial agent for wounds. But at home, this method is unacceptable, since the web is never clean.

In terms of strength, not a single fiber can be compared with cobweb fibers. It withstands from 40 to 260 kg per square millimeter, surpassing steel in strength.

The inhabitants of the tropics weave fishing nets and nets from the web of the cross for catching insects, birds and bats. The web is elastic, can stretch up to 30% and return to its original state.

What to do with a bite

The bite of a spider is not fatal to humans, cattle, horses, dogs, sheep, the danger exists only for rats, rabbits and mice.

Usually, a cross bites a person by accident if he gets into the web, where the hunter is waiting for his prey. Its venom is a colorless, cloudy and viscous liquid.

Bite prevention

To avoid being bitten by a cross, you should follow some simple recommendations:

  • when going to bed in nature, be sure to close the entrance to the tent at night;
  • before going to bed, carefully examine the bed, clothes and shoes;
  • be careful near the webs, remember that there is a cross nearby, which is waiting for the victim;
  • be careful during summer and garden work;
  • be vigilant when in abandoned old premises;
  • when you find a cross, do not try to pick it up.

Symptoms

Spider-cross is able to bite through only the thinnest skin. In terms of pain, the bite is comparable to, a person feels a prick with a thin needle, and sometimes does not notice anything at all.

At the site of the lesion, a white spot appears with red or pink edges, small in size (no more than a coin of five kopecks).

The main signs of a cross bite that develops after 5-20 minutes include:

  • irritation at the site of injury;
  • aches in the joints;
  • weakness;
  • skin redness;
  • slight chills;
  • subcutaneous hemorrhages;
  • a slight increase in temperature;
  • edema;
  • hardening of the skin;
  • headache;
  • burning.

First bite action

When bitten by a cross, actions should be taken:

  1. wash the affected area with running water and soap to eliminate the risk of infection;
  2. apply ice or a cold compress to the bite site;
  3. with fever or pain in the head, it is recommended to take paracetamol;
  4. for an allergic reaction, take any antihistamine that does not require a prescription.

If there is a rapid increase in symptoms or a child has been bitten, it is recommended to seek help from a doctor.

Effects

Cross releases epeirotoxin, which is absorbed and completely excreted from the human body during the day. There may be slight swelling at the site of the bite for several days.

If there is no improvement in the person's condition, the following actions should be performed:

  1. apply cold to the affected area;
  2. apply anti-inflammatory ointments: Sinaflan, Kremgen;
  3. lubricate the area with alcohol.
You can not comb the site of the bite of the cross-spider. This leads to the development of a purulent process when an infection enters the skin.

It makes no sense to cauterize or cut the skin with a bite; it does not have serious consequences. It's just more trauma.

To date, there has not been a single death from a bite from a cross. But in some cases, after recovery, soft tissue necrosis is observed at the site of the lesion.

Exercise caution when in nature. Remember that a spider-cross will never attack a person on its own. Do not provoke a bite, and if you are injured, take measures to prevent complications.

Millions of different spiders live in nature, killing entire armies of insects that are dangerous both for humans and for their homes.

And if not for these arthropods, then the number of mosquitoes, moths, aphids and other insects would be much larger, which would cause great discomfort to people and animals.

What it looks like: description, internal and external structure of the body

One of the most common representatives of the family of round-web spiders is the cross-spider, with more than 1000 varieties. Consider the brightest representatives of this family, which are the main characteristics of the body structure.

Common cross (Araneus diadematus)

This type of cross is a small spider.

Its external characteristics are as follows:

  • the body of an adult male reaches a maximum of 1.1 cm, females are larger, specimens up to 4.0 cm can be found;
  • the body cover consists of a strong shell of a yellow-brown hue, which changes during the molting period;
  • wondering how many legs an ordinary cross has, you need to know that the spider has 8 legs, each of which plays its role in the life of an arthropod;
  • the sense organs are well developed. The spider has a good sense of smell and taste, thanks to the hairs that cover the entire body, it easily captures even the smallest fluctuation or vibration;
  • four pairs of eyes, each of which is turned in different directions, create an extensive horizon.

Important! Despite the large number of eyes, arthropods of this species are short-sighted. They can only see shadows and outlines of large objects.

Angular (Araneus angulatus)

Another type of spider-cross, which is listed in the Red Book in many countries.
External differences are represented by the following indicators:

  • females reach small sizes, a maximum of 1.8 cm, but they are still larger than the male, whose length is only 1.2 cm;
  • they do not have a cross, instead, small humps in the amount of 2 pieces, which are located in the abdomen;
  • the whole body is dotted with light-colored hairs;
  • the oral apparatus is located on the cephalothorax;
  • eyes count 8 pieces;
  • there are 4 pairs of legs on the body.

In general, the parts of the body and the respiratory organs are no different from other representatives.

Marble (Araneus marmoreus)

This type of spider has its own external differences:

  • has significant sexual dimorphism. Females grow much larger than males. Their length is up to 18 mm, spiders grow up to 8 mm;
  • these arthropods are endowed with an extensive range of colors and patterns. However, the most common is an orange belly and a black pattern. It is this variation that gives the species its name.

 The remaining organs, as well as the digestive and respiratory systems, are the same as those of other spiders of this species.

Where does it live and how long does it live

Habitat - wet and damp terrain. The greatest probability of meeting with him can occur in places where a large number of trees grow, where they stretch their web, as well as along the banks of reservoirs and even in the attics of various buildings.

Did you know? 2.5 billion years ago, the first spiders appeared on Earth, which gave life to more than 30 thousand species of spiders that live almost everywhere today.

More than 30 species of spiders live in Russia and the former CIS countries, including Ukraine. This species of arthropod is a hermit predator, and the main feature of its behavior is an extremely negative attitude towards its own kind. At night, these arthropods weave their trapping webs, and during the daytime they hunt their prey.

What does it eat

The main diet of the spider are small insects. The female during the day absorbs food in an amount equal to her weight. When an inedible insect enters the web, the spider gets rid of it by breaking the threads.
He also tries to avoid flies and wasps, which can lay eggs on other animals. Hunting occurs in two ways: in the center of the web or from a nearby shelter.

The predator is not able to immediately consume food, so it quickly injects aggressive juice into the caught prey, places the prey in a cocoon and waits for the victim's insides to turn into a nutrient solution. This process takes about 1 hour, after which the spider sucks out the prey, and the cocoon remains.

Spider spider web

All the webs that spiders weave are no different from one another, since the ability to weave a web is inherent in these predators at the genetic level. Only females are engaged in weaving such beautiful, intricate patterns.

Did you know? In microbiology, the web is used as the thinnest optical fiber to identify the composition of the air located in the atmosphere.

The web has strictly 39 radii and 1245 points of their attachment to the spiral, which, in turn, consists of 35 turns. The threads that make up the web are light, but at the same time they are very strong - they are used by the inhabitants of the tropics for weaving nets and fishing gear. In addition, the threads are very elastic.
In the process of arranging her creation, the female uses two types of threads. The base and radii are woven from dry fibers of a strong structure without a sticky coating and stretched between the branches.

Then the spider begins to weave the threads, which are located from the center to the edges, and the spiral thread, which will be the basis for the trapping spiral. After the work done, the spider lays a web with an adhesive base from the center of her creation.

The spiders themselves move only along dry threads, so they do not stick to their trapping webs. It takes about one hour for the spider to weave the entire web.

poisonous or not

The venom of the brown cross contains heat-labile hemolysin, which has a negative effect on blood cells.

However, its dose is so small that it can only harm small animals. For humans, a spider bite is not dangerous, but minor discomfort may occur if you are allergic to animal bites.
At the site of the bite, there is a quickly passing minor pain and itching. To quickly relieve these symptoms, it is necessary to wash the affected area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe skin with soap and apply something cold, ice if possible, then apply an ointment to relieve inflammation.

Important! The spider never attacks first - a bite is possible with accidental contact.

Reproduction and offspring

The mating season for spiders takes place in August. During courtship, the male, in order not to become a victim, carefully approaches the edge of the web, pulls the strings with his paws and waits until the female responds in kind. Then mating occurs, after which the male dies.

The female, immediately after mating, begins to weave a cocoon, in which eggs will be placed in the future. The cocoon will stay with her for a while, and then she will hide it in a secluded place.

In autumn, a spider lays an average of 500 eggs in a cocoon, which are completely stored in it until spring. After hatching, many small spiders die as a result of high competition and attacks from relatives.
They are faced with the acute issue of survival, and for this they need to leave the mother's cocoon as soon as possible. Spider legs are small and weak. Because of this, they move on the web, gliding under the influence of the wind like on a magic carpet.

When the wind subsides, the web falls to the ground, and the spider leaves it, starting a new life. If the site turns out to be successful, then with the help of its nets it will be able to catch up to 400 insects throughout the day. By the beginning of summer, the spiders are already capable of mating, and by the same time the spider that gave them life dies.

Did you know? With the help of a web, a cross can overcome about 400 km of the way.

As can be seen from all of the above, the opinion of many that all spiders with crosses on their bodies and villi are dangerous to people is erroneous. However, despite this, you should not tempt fate and try to stroke or pick up this arthropod.

Cross spider (Araneus) - arthropod belonging to genus of araneomorphic spiders and family of orbs(Araneidae). They live in almost every country, except for the southern and northern latitudes. This type is the most common. There are 2000 species of this spider in the world, about 10 species live in Russia. Most often, this insect can be found in the Republic of Mordovia, Astrakhan, Smolensk and Rostov regions.

Appearance

The external structure of the cross is represented by the abdomen and spider warts, the cephalothorax and walking legs, consisting of the thigh, knee joint, lower leg, pretarsus, paw and claw, as well as the chelicera and pedipalp, acetabular ring and coxa.

Crosses are spiders quite small in size, however, the female of this arthropod is much larger than the male. The body length of the female is 1.7-4.0 cm, and the size of an adult male cross, as a rule, does not exceed 1.0-1.1 cm. time for another molt.

The cross has 10 limbs:

  • One pair of chelicerae, which serve to seize and kill the victim. These limbs point downward, hooked inward.
  • Four pairs of walking legs with claws at the ends.
  • 1 pair of pedipalps that recognize and help hold prey. A characteristic feature of these limbs is the location on the last segment of the copulatory apparatus. This apparatus receives seminal fluid, which is subsequently introduced into the female's seminal receptacle.

The spider-spider has very poor eyesight, despite the fact that it has 4 pairs of eyes. This spider distinguishes only light, shadow and blurry silhouettes. But this does not prevent him from being perfectly oriented in space, because he has a well-developed sense of touch. It is carried out thanks to the tactile hairs covering the body. Every kind of hair has its own function: some perceive the sound, others catch the change in air movement, and still others react to various kinds of stimuli.

Adult males on the last segment of the pedipalps have a copulatory organ, which is filled immediately before mating with seminal fluid, which enters the seminal receptacle located on the female, due to which offspring appears.

It is interesting! The visual abilities of the cross are very poorly developed, so the arthropod sees poorly and is able to distinguish only blurry silhouettes, as well as the presence of light and shadows.

Cross spiders have four pairs of eyes, but are almost completely blind. An excellent compensation for such a visual deficiency is a well-developed sense of touch, for which special tactile hairs located on the entire surface of the body are responsible. Some hairs on the body of an arthropod are able to respond to the presence of chemical stimuli, other hairs perceive air vibrations, and the third pick up all kinds of ambient sounds.

The abdomen of cross-spiders is rounded and completely devoid of segments. In the upper part there is a drawing in the form of a cross, and on the lower part there are three pairs of special spider warts, which contain almost a thousand glands that produce spider webs. Such strong threads have various purposes: building reliable trapping nets, arranging protective shelters or weaving a cocoon for posterity.

The respiratory system is located in the abdomen and is represented by two lung sacs, in which there is a significant number of leaf-shaped folds with air. Inside the folds, liquid hemolymph circulates, enriched with oxygen. The respiratory system also includes tracheal tubes. In the dorsal region of the abdomen there is a heart, which in its appearance resembles a rather long tube with outgoing, relatively large blood vessels.

Nutrition

Crosses are hunters who are most active at twilight and at night. During the day, they prefer to sit in secluded places. Their diet contains:

  • vile, etc.

During the hunt, the crusader spider is located in the center of its web and freezes. From the outside, it looks like he's dead. But as soon as the victim gets into the net, the hunter reacts with lightning speed. He quickly runs up to the entangled insect, pierces his body with his sharp claws, which are located on the front pair of legs, and injects paralytic poison. After a while, the caught victim freezes. At the same time, in different situations, spiders either immediately eat their prey, or leave it in reserve.

The spider-cross eats quite a lot - the total amount of food absorbed per day is approximately equal to its body weight. And at one time he is able to eat about a dozen insects. For this reason, he spends almost all his time hunting, constantly being in the web and waiting for the next victim. A small part of the day is allotted for rest, but even during this period, the signal thread is necessarily tied to one of the hunter's legs.

On a note! Not all insects are included in the diet of the spider-cross. If a victim with an unpleasant odor, someone poisonous or too large gets into the web, then the hunter prefers in this case to let the unwanted guest go. He bites through the restraining threads and lets go!

Spiders, along with most other spiders, have an external type of digestion.. In anticipation of their prey, spiders are usually located near the network, located in a hidden nest, which is made of a strong web. A special signal thread is stretched from the central part of the web to the spider nest.

The arthropod is unable to digest the caught prey on its own, therefore, as soon as the victim gets into the network, the spider-cross quickly injects its very aggressive, caustic digestive juice into it, after which it wraps the prey in a cocoon from the web and waits for some time, during which the food is digested and turns into a so-called nutrient solution.

The process of digestion of food in a cocoon usually takes no more than one hour, and then the nutrient fluid is absorbed, and only a chitinous cover remains inside the cocoon.

How long does a cross live

Cross-spiders of different species, in comparison with many of their counterparts, live quite a short time. Males die immediately after mating, and females die immediately after weaving a cocoon for offspring.

Thus, the life expectancy of male crosses does not exceed three months, and females of this species can live for about six months.

Spider venom

The venom of the cross is toxic to vertebrates and invertebrates, as it contains thermolabile hemolysin. This substance can adversely affect the red blood cells of animals such as rabbit, rat and mouse, as well as human blood cells. As practice shows, a guinea pig, a horse, a sheep and a dog have a fairly high resistance to the toxin.

Among other things, the toxin has an irreversible effect on the synaptic apparatus of any invertebrate animal. For human life and health, crosses are in most cases absolutely harmless, but if there is a history of allergies, the toxin can cause a strong burning sensation or local tissue necrosis. Small cross-spiders are capable of biting through human skin, but the total amount of venom injected is most often harmless, so its presence under the skin is accompanied by mild or quickly passing pain symptoms.

Important! According to some reports, the bites of the largest crosses of some species are no less painful than the sensations after a scorpion sting.

Cross web

As a rule, crosses settle in the crown of a tree, between branches, where large trapping nets are arranged by a spider. The foliage of the plant is used to make shelter. Quite often, a spider web is found in shrubbery and among window frames in abandoned buildings.

The spider-cross destroys its web every other day and starts making a new one, as the trapping nets become unusable because not only small, but also too large insects get into them. As a rule, a new web is woven at night, which allows the spider to catch prey for itself in the morning. The webs built by an adult female cross spider are distinguished by the presence of a certain number of spirals and radii woven from sticky threads. The distance between adjacent coils is also precise and constant.

The building instinct of the cross-spider is brought to automatism and programmed in the nervous system at the genetic level, so even young individuals are able to very easily build high-quality cobwebs and quickly catch the prey necessary for food. The spiders themselves use exclusively radial, dry threads for movement, so the cross is not able to stick to trapping nets.

Range and habitats

The most common representative common cross(Araneus diadematus), is found throughout the European part and in some North American states, where spiders of this species inhabit coniferous forests, marshy and shrub plantations. Angled cross(Araneus angulatus) is an endangered and very rare species that lives in our country, as well as in the territory of the Palearctic region. The Australian cross spider Araneus albotriangulus also inhabits the territory of New South Wales and Queensland.

In our country, the most common oak cross spiders(Araneus seroregius or Aculeireira seroregia), which settle in tall grass on forest edges, in groves and gardens, as well as in fairly dense shrub thickets.

Cross Araneus savaticus or barn spider, for arranging a hunting net, it uses grottoes and rocky cliffs, as well as inlets into mines and barns. Quite often, this species settles in close proximity to human dwellings. Cat-faced cross spider(Araneus gemmoides) lives in the western part of America and Canada, and the natural range of a typical representative of the Asian fauna of the spider Araneus mitificus or "Spider Pringles" became India, Nepal, the territory of Bhutan and part of Australia.

Reproduction and offspring

Young males during the spring and summer are mainly engaged in weaving webs and hunting, trying to provide themselves with normal food. Closer to the mating season, they leave their shelters and move from place to place in search of a female. At this time, they eat extremely poorly, which explains the significant difference in mass between them and spiders.

Spiders are dioecious arthropods. The courtship process usually takes place at night. Males climb onto the net of females, after which they arrange simple dances, consisting in raising their legs and shaking the web. Such manipulations serve as a kind of identification signals. After the male touches the cephalothorax of the female with his pedipalps, mating occurs, which consists in the transfer of the sexual fluid.

This period falls approximately at the end of summer or the beginning of autumn. As a rule, the cocoon woven by the female turns out to be quite dense, and for some time the female cross carries it on herself, after which she hides it in a safe place. The cocoon contains from three to eight hundred eggs, which are amber in color.

Inside such a “house”, eggs with spiders are not afraid of cold and water, since the spider cocoon is quite light and absolutely waterproof. In the spring, small spiders emerge from the eggs, which for some time continue to sit inside a warm and cozy shelter. Then the spiders begin to gradually spread in different directions, and become completely independent.

Due to the very large natural competition, the little spiders that were born risk dying of starvation and can be eaten by relatives, so young individuals try to disperse very quickly, which greatly increases the chances of the cross to survive in adverse environmental conditions.

It is interesting! Possessing small and weak legs, small spiders use a web to move around, on which the crosses plan from place to place. In the presence of a fair wind, spiders on the web are able to cover a distance of up to 300-400 km.

Cross spiders are often kept as pets. To grow such home spiders, you need to use a terrarium of sufficient size, which is due to the scope of the web. The bite of the cross is not dangerous, but when caring for indoor exotics, all precautions must be observed.

  • Due to its high strength and elasticity, the spider web threads of the crosses have been used for the manufacture of fabrics and jewelry for a long time, and the inhabitants of the tropics still weave nets and fishing nets from it.
  • Immediately after mating, the spider tries to hide faster. However, it is possible for units - the most agile. Most die from the poison of the female.
  • The spider's web is used in microbiology to determine the composition of atmospheric air and as the thinnest optical fiber.
  • The spiders themselves inside the web move along radial, dry threads, therefore they do not stick to their own trapping network.

Description of popular species

Common cross

It is the most common type of spider with a cross on its back. Such a spider can be found in Europe, North America. This species prefers to settle in swamps, bushes, and also in coniferous forests. The female has a size of 20–25 mm, while the male reaches 11 mm in length and has a narrower body. In both sexes, the body has a waxy coating that retains water. The cephalothorax is under the reliable protection of a strong shell.

Angled cross

It is one of the rarest species. This species of arthropod is on the verge of extinction and is even listed in the Red Book of the city of St. Petersburg. The range of the angular cross is Europe, Asia, Russia and northern Africa. A characteristic difference of this species is the absence of a cross of white spots. Instead of spots on the spider, there are 2 angular humps on the abdomen. The body of this species is covered with numerous light-colored hairs. Females reach 15–18 mm, while males grow up to 10–12 mm.

barn spider

This species can be found in the northeastern United States, North America, and also in Canada. Prefers to settle in places of rocky cliffs, near the entrance to the mines. The size of females differs slightly from males. The female representative has a size of 13-22 mm, and the male grows up to 10-20 mm. The body of the female is lighter or yellow, and the center of the belly is represented by brown jagged edges. In the lower part of the spider there is a strip of dark color, and on top of the black background you can see two dazzling white spots.

Spider Pringles

He is a resident of India, Austria, Nepal. They named it after an interesting pattern in the upper part of the abdomen, reminiscent of a mustachioed uncle, from a package of well-known chips. During the hunt, spiders sit in a shelter with a signal thread that is triggered when the victim enters the trap. These spiders are small. The female grows up to 6–9 mm, and the male up to 3–5 mm.

Meadow cross

This spider can be found in damp areas with densely planted grass. In shape and size, it can be compared with an ordinary cross. The characteristic cross-shaped spots on the belly are dark or light in color, depending on the color of the surface of the abdomen. At the bottom, you can see a blurry drawing in the form of a sheet. The body is light green or dark brown. On the paws you can see stripes of light color. The female grows up to 17 mm, while the male is only 8 mm in length. Adult females have the properties of a chameleon, in other words, they can merge with the environment.

The cross is chilly

This species is a lover of temperate climates. Lives in forests with deciduous trees. In appearance, it resembles a meadow cross. The difference is the color of the spider. This species is dominated by beige and orange. On the abdomen there are numerous specks of light color, due to which it resembles a strawberry. The female reaches a length of 13 mm, and the male is only 6 mm.

oak cross

The favorite habitat of this spider is thickets of bushes, as well as tall grass. The spider prefers a temperate climate. A distinctive feature of this species is the abdomen of females with a pointed shape at both ends. It also has numerous hairs covering the cephalothorax. Against the background of a brown abdomen, you can see a pattern in the form of a white Christmas tree. In the lower part of the belly there is an elongated yellow spot. The female reaches 14 mm in size, and the male grows up to 7–8 mm.

cat face spider

Lives in the western part of the USA, as well as in Canada. The body, covered with villi, can have a dark and light color. In the place where the cross should be, there is a drawing that resembles a cat's face. The size of the female of such an arthropod is 13–25 mm, and the male reaches up to 8 mm in length.

Video

Sources

    http://simple-fauna.ru/spiders/pauk-krestovik/ http://beetlestop.ru/pauk-krestovik/

Spider cross or common cross is very common in nature. It can be observed on the banks of rivers, lakes, wet meadows, forests, as it loves damp places.

Belongs to the family of roundworms. It is believed that this representative of a kind is a hermit and does not like arthropods of other species. Is the cross spider dangerous for humans? This question is in every person's head, and we will try to give a detailed answer to it.

Let us consider in more detail what it is, what its features are, what danger it poses to a person.

A cross or a crusader does not choose a specific continent for his dwelling according to any parameters, he lives everywhere.

Appearance of an adult

According to the description of the appearance, everyone can determine that at least once in his life he met with the bearer of this sign on the back, but not everyone knows what to expect from him.

The insect got its name precisely because of the uncomplicated coloring. On its back there are several light spots that form something similar to a cross. The tone of its color depends on the place of its stay.

That is, for example, if the spider is in direct sunlight, then its color fades and becomes pale brown, if in shaded thickets, then dark brown. This feature saves the spider from pests, which can be birds or other insects, for example, flies that can lay eggs right in the crusader's torso.

The sizes depend on the sex of the adult, that is, the male reaches up to 10 mm, and the female up to 20 mm. some female specimens reach 26 mm in length. In the short life of a spider, molting occurs, a period when the chitinous cover changes. It is at this time that the growth of the body occurs.

On a small head are two pairs of black eyes, which is very characteristic of arachnids. This feature helps the insect to quickly orient itself at the sight of the victim. But the spider cannot clearly see its enemy or food, it only reacts to movement or shadow, the outlines of objects. The body of the insect is densely covered with small hairs, which play the role of organs of touch, they feel any vibration that occurs around.

The spider has 4 pairs of legs, at the end of which there are three claws. Insects are especially active at night, in the daytime they prefer to hide in the leaves of trees or tall grass.

Reproduction and life cycle

Individuals of these spiders are dioecious, that is, a female and a male. The mating season between them takes place in August. After mating occurs, the female eats the male, but sometimes it happens that the male manages to escape.

Video: Female kills male after mating

From the threads of the web, the uterus weaves a cocoon in which eggs are laid. The female always carries this dense bag with her or hides it in a secluded place, but at the same time she protects it with dignity. Egg laying takes place in autumn. In early spring, little spiders hatch from the cocoon. Their maturation, that is, their puberty, comes by the summer. After that, the mother dies.

The male is looking for a suitable female for himself, but at the same time he knows that he can be eaten by her, therefore, next to the female web, he weaves threads for himself, along which he can escape. After visiting the female several times, they mate and the cycle repeats again.

For one clutch, from 300 to 800 eggs are laid in a cocoon, which overwinter well, and in the spring, at the first warm days, babies appear. At first they are in a cocoon, but with the establishment of constant warm weather, they begin to spread and lead an independent life.

Diet

The diet of crosses is very diverse.

It can be:

  • Drosophila flies;
  • flies;
  • mosquitoes;
  • bees;
  • grasshoppers;
  • other small insects.

To catch its food, the cross spider uses a trapping web. If a very large prey or flies and wasps that lay their eggs on the spider come across it, then the insect, breaking the threads, releases it.

If a small fly or other edible insect comes across in the net, then the crusader eats food immediately or, having entangled it in a cocoon, hides it in a secluded place so that other individuals do not eat his breakfast. The process of hunting is very interesting. After weaving the web, the spider hides in the foliage or sits quietly to the side. After the fly is caught, it begins to flutter, creating vibrations that are transmitted to the spider along a signal thread woven into the web.

After that, the insect crawls up to the caught victim and pierces it with its jaw apparatus. The crusader uses external digestion, that is, while catching a fly, the insect injects digestive juice into its victim, which completely dissolves it from the inside. The spider can only suck out the prepared contents.

Is it poisonous?

There is a statement that the cross is very dangerous for humans, but in fact it is a myth. In reality, a spider with a cross is dangerous and poisonous to small animals, which can be mice, rats and other rodents.

For people and large animals, such as cows, horses are not dangerous, except for itching and burning after being bitten by a spider.

What is useful spider crusader

First, we dispelled the myth that the cross spider is poisonous to humans. Secondly, it should be proved that it brings considerable benefits in nature. An adult cross, of any kind, destroys a large number of insect pests that are carriers of dangerous diseases.

  1. Strong web threads have been used since ancient times for weaving fishing tackle: nets and nets.
  2. is the basis of many fabrics and decorations. For example, the French wove stockings and gloves from the threads of spider webs.
  3. Even scientific research uses the web. It is used in microbiology to determine the composition of atmospheric air.
  4. Some scientists have long been using the web in measuring optical instruments.
  5. It is believed that the cross web has disinfecting and antiseptic properties, as it is able to destroy bacteria and viruses.

Therefore, if you meet a spider on your way with a cross on the outside of the abdomen, you should not run away “like fire”, remember that it is not dangerous, but very useful.

Crusader Spider Bite Danger

There are about 2 thousand crusaders in the world, only 30 of them can be found in Russia. All of them have almost the same features of life, but differ only in appearance, habitat and distribution area. It cannot be said that one species is more dangerous than the other. This saying can only be applied to specific insects that will become spider food.

If you still had to face the cross carrier, then in some cases it may remain invisible, that is, you will not feel the bite and the consequences. But sometimes they can be pronounced.

Bite symptoms

The bite is obtained by accidentally breaking the web. It doesn't specifically attack people.

If the bite did occur, then you can notice this by the following symptoms:

  • redness of the bitten place;
  • burning;
  • short-term pain;
  • slight increase in body temperature;
  • headache.

All symptoms appear within five minutes. If during this time nothing has appeared, then the danger has passed. Not a single death from a bite of a cross has been noted in the history of mankind.

Help with a bite

To disinfect and remove redness from the skin, you must perform the following measures:

  1. Wash the wound with soap and running water to eliminate infection.
  2. You can apply dry ice or cold application.
  3. To eliminate headaches and relieve fever, you can drink antipyretic drugs.
  4. With intolerance to the poison of the cross, an allergic reaction may occur. To eliminate it, you need to take an antihistamine.
  5. In the case when the situation does not change, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

Precautionary measures

Even if the bite is not fatal, it can be a big nuisance.

To avoid this, you need to follow some rules:

  1. When spending the night in nature, you have to sleep in a tent, so before spending the night, check the fabric room for the invasion of "eight-legged guests".
  2. Before putting on clothes and shoes, check for a spider inside. The same goes for bedding.
  3. If a web is found, it is better not to contact it, since only “evil” females of the cross are weaving the web.
  4. If you have a spider in front of you, you should not run away, it is better not to do anything at all and protect small children from it.

Conclusion

The opinion that all spiders are poisonous is one hundred percent true, but their poison is dangerous to varying degrees. Someone's bites can be fatal for a person, some will simply cause minor irritation.

The latter concerns the crusader spider and its relatives of this genus. Even if an unpleasant meeting with him occurred, a number of rules must be followed, and the threat to health will pass.

Video: Spider-cross Araneus diadematus

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