The variety of spider species is amazing. The rarest spiders are found not only in the tropics, but also in our country. Among them there are specimens that run fast or have an unusual color that resembles ladybugs or even bird droppings.
There are incredibly beautiful creatures, as if decorated with shards of mirrors. Some species are extremely poisonous.
Spider twig
The rather harmless twig spider has among its relatives the most poisonous spiders - the karakurt and the black widow. Inhabitant of the southwestern part of the Australian continent.
These interesting spiders get their name from the shape of their body, which actually resembles a twig. Males are up to 1.3 cm in length, females - 2.2 cm, weave their webs from several threads at a height of about a meter from the ground.
It falls on top of the victim when it touches the signal web. Prefers to hunt smaller arachnids and small insects.
Are house spiders dangerous for humans?
Spiders often cause feelings of fear, discomfort and even disgust in people. However, house spiders cannot cause serious harm to human health. They are shy and non-aggressive, looking for secluded places in the apartment, away from human eyes, where they live and hunt in relative safety.
Domestic arachnids are naturally vulnerable. The fragile structure of the body and tiny fangs make them defenseless against people. The enzymes produced by the spider when it bites are negligible.
Even the karakurt, the most harmful of arthropod tenants, if it suddenly decides to bite, will not cause much trouble to a person. Possible inflammation at the bite site can be easily treated with any alcohol-containing product.
Spider Maratus volans
This member of the family of jumping spiders is distinguished by its unusual coloring and peculiar behavior, which makes it one of the most unusual spiders.
The female has a completely nameless grayish color, but the male was generously endowed by nature. On the abdomen and scutes there are bright stripes of yellow, blue, and red.
The shields fan out and the spider jumps, moving from left to right, as if dancing, to attract the attention of the female. The species is endemic (inhabits a specific area) of Australia.
If the female is not going to mate, she can easily eat the groom.
Determination of gender
One of the most important aspects associated with the successful breeding of tarantulas in captivity is the ability to determine the sex of the spider as early as possible in order to slow down or maximize its growth and onset of puberty.
Recent research by scientists (Rick West, Mark R. Hart), based on the work of B.J. Marples, "The Spinnerets and Epiandrous Glands of Spiders", 1967, provided the only truly possible way to accurately determine the sex of a tarantula from a living specimen. As already mentioned when considering the arachnoid apparatus of tarantula spiders, only males have special arachnoid glands, the appendages of which barely noticeably open with openings in the epiginum , anterior to the epigastric groove . These holes are arranged in 2-4 rows, having a semicircular or triangular shape. The area where they are located can be determined by denser and shorter dark hairs arranged in the form of an “arch” (see figure).
These appendages, similar to the main spinneret (web appendages) of a spider, are called epiandrous fusillae (epiandral glands) and are used by males in spinning sperm - webs . Therefore, if they are found in a tarantula, then this specimen is a male; if they are not present, it is a female. However, mastering this method requires some practice, you need to have a “trained eye”, which comes with experience. It can be especially difficult to determine the sex of species that have a light color on the underside of the abdomen and the special hairs themselves - Aphonopelma seemanni, Nhandu coloratovillosus, Megaphobema robustum. It also requires precision and careful handling of spiders. But this method is unique and effective, since it is based on a scientific approach and is the only one that allows you to reliably determine the sex of a living tarantula spider.
This method allows you to determine the sex even of spiders of early instars, however, this requires good additional lighting and a binocular or microscope.
The next, also absolutely reliable and accurate way to determine sex, is to study the exuvium (old exoskeleton) of the tarantula remaining after its molt.
To do this, you need to straighten the exuvium as shown in the figures and pay attention to the area between the first pair of white spots, located at the base of the abdomen. These spots determine the location of the tarantula's lungs - the first and second pairs, respectively. The tarantula spider's genitals are located in this area, and the female's exuvium has a mark from the spermatheca (spermatheca) , which is well defined in adult females. In the exuvium of males this place has a smooth edge.
To determine the sex of small individuals, good lighting and strong magnification are necessary, which is quite difficult due to the usually weak expression of the spermatheca “pocket” in juvenile females. The shape of the spermatheca pouch varies among species.
It is also necessary to take into account that many species, in a short time immediately after molting, manage to “chew” the discarded exuvium, thereby rendering it in a state unsuitable for sex determination. Therefore, to avoid this, it is necessary to remove the exuvium immediately after the tarantula has moulted, without in any way disturbing the spider itself.
Recently, another “comprehensive” method for determining the sex of living spiders has also become widespread, which makes it possible with a high degree of probability to determine whether a specimen is male or female, respectively, by the shape of the epigastric groove, the distance between the anterior pair of lungs and the angle of inclination of the anterior lungs.
Water spider
The water spider, or silverfish, is found in Europe. This is the only arachnid species that lives in water. The male is larger than the female (1.5 cm and 1.2 cm, respectively).
The spider's nest is remarkable, where the female lays eggs. An air-filled bell of a web is attached to underwater plants.
When immersed under water, air is retained on the hairs of the abdomen, covered with a special substance that allows the spider not to swim for a long time. These spiders are often kept indoors as they are interesting to look at.
Reproduction
Female with spiderlings
The mating season for spiders begins in autumn and lasts until spring. At this time, the male goes in search of the female. Having found a suitable candidate, he begins to perform a special dance that attracts attention. If the female reciprocates, then they retire. After this, the male moves away, and the female begins to wait for offspring. After two and a half months, she lays eggs, and after another month, the young hatch from them.
Sydney funnel web spider
The venom of this rather rare spider can be fatal to humans. Spiders live in burrows, hollows, dark and damp places exclusively in the Australian state of New South Wales. The web is made in the form of a funnel. Body size 1–5 cm, dark color: from brown to bluish-black.
From 1927 to 1980, 13 deaths from Atrax robustus bites were recorded. Thanks to an antidote invented in 1981, all victims can now be saved.
Reasons for appearance
Spiders are predators. They feed on small insects, of which there are great abundance in human habitats. Therefore, brought there by the wind or in some other way, arthropods willingly become domesticated, populating country attics, basements, and living quarters of houses.
But it is not only the abundance of food that attracts spiders to human habitation. For them, there are at least three more attraction factors:
- The beginning of autumn is the peak of the arthropod invasion. The coming coolness drives people into warm apartments.
- Air humidity. It affects spiders, depending on their belonging to a particular species. Some people like to settle in dry, warm places - in the kitchen, in sleeping apartments. Others, on the contrary, prefer dampness and cold, mastering basements and bathrooms.
- The cleanliness of the owners of the house. The lower it is, the more freely it is for arthropods to live, eat, and reproduce in neglected rooms.
You should not wait until all the corners of the house are entangled in cobwebs. Regular wet cleaning will help reduce the number of loose arthropods. There are more radical means to combat them.
Spiny orb spider
Along the edges of the female's body there are 6 bright red or orange spines. Males are spineless and have 4–5 dark outgrowths. The body is spherical. The color can be varied: yellow, red, lemon. There are many dark spots in the crater between the spikes. Females reach sizes of 3 cm, males are 2–3 times smaller.
Distributed in the southern states of North America, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Sphere-weaving spiders are often found in orange plantations in Florida, USA, killing insect pests of citrus fruits.
External signs
The sex of tarantula spiders can be distinguished by external features. Unfortunately, this technique is used for individuals who are approaching the age of puberty. The hair color of arthropods within the same family may be the same, but the body length, limb span, and weight are different.
- Size. Females are larger than males, but females grow more slowly. If you examine young arthropods, the males will be larger. Before puberty, they are ahead of spiders in growth.
- Color. The hair of females is slightly brighter than that of spiders.
- Limbs. Males have wide limbs. Female tarantulas have slimmer legs and, as arachnologists say, elegant legs. Spiders have spine-shaped outgrowths on their forelimbs. Spiders do not have them.
- Chelicerae. Tarantula spiders are mygalomorphic arthropods. Chelicerae in individuals of both sexes are directed forward. They are located parallel to each other, but in males they are even along the entire length and small in diameter. In spiders, the chelicerae are barrel-shaped. They are widened at the base and narrowed towards the edge.
Tarantulas of the family ceratogyrus, which live in southern Africa, have a keratinized growth on the cephalothorax.
It is located in the center of the dorsal shield. The outgrowth has the shape of a cone, the apex of which is directed upward, forward or towards the abdomen. People call this outgrowth a horn. The horn appears only in females after 5-6 molts. Males do not have such decoration.
To find out the sex of spiders, observe their behavior. Animals are housed in one terrarium. If there are 2 males in the same territory, they will fight for the feeding area, defending the right to ownership.
Tarantulas have developed cannibalism. Both tarantulas will be active. If there are two individuals of different sexes in the same terrarium, then the female will dominate, and the male will retreat and seek shelter.
Spiders are especially aggressive after mating. Spiders hold the females by the chelicerae with spines that are located on their forelimbs. After fertilization, males try to quickly hide in a shelter. Delay is dangerous for the male's life. The spider pounces on him and eats him.
Horned orb weaving spider
The horned spider is a type of web spider. Their two spikes turned into real giant horns. Some of the rarest spiders in the world prefer to live in damp bushes.
Every evening, the female horned spider “weaves” a round web with a diameter of up to 0.3 m at a height of about 6 m above the ground. Males live below females and do not hesitate to eat their prey.
Animals of Australia
Happy magazine shared details about the Critterpedia app. Among all the variety of Australian animals, there are about 2000 species of spiders and 170 species of snakes. Even if the Australian government published a huge book describing all the poisonous and harmless creatures, not a single person would be able to remember them all. But you still need to be able to recognize them - the chances of running into a poisonous creature are very high. For example, in 2015, 22-year-old Sydney resident Jarred Smith found a poisonous snake right inside a box of cereal. The uninvited guest turned out to be a two-meter python, which, although not poisonous, can easily swallow an adult.
The same video with the spider in the box
Killer spider
The Madagascar assassin spider was discovered by researchers in the early 21st century. Its size does not exceed 2–3 mm, but the poison is extremely dangerous for humans.
There are poisonous chelicerae on the long jaws, and a head on the long neck - this specific body structure allows it to hunt while remaining at a safe distance from the prey.
Related species of assassin spiders in the family Archaeidae are found in South Africa and Australia.
Assassin spiders were originally considered an extinct species; their remains were found in Baltic amber. Living representatives were later discovered.
How to recognize poisonous snakes and spiders?
Well, thanks to the Critterpedia app, people don't have to remember the appearance of snakes and spiders. All you need to do is take a photo of the animal you encounter from a safe distance and upload the frame to the app. The service database contains a huge number of photographs of almost all reptiles and arthropods of Australia, sorted by category. Artificial intelligence studies the uploaded file and compares the appearance of the detected animal with the characteristics of the creatures from the database. Having selected the most similar snake or spider, the application shows all available information, the main one of which is whether the animal is poisonous or not.
This is what recognizing poisonous creatures looks like
The developers admit that at the moment the recognition accuracy is far from ideal and the application may make mistakes. The fact is that the artificial intelligence only has photographs provided by zoologists collaborating with Critterpedia. But, if users use the service more often, sending photos of animals from different angles, the accuracy will automatically increase. Look, a few more months, and the application will recognize poisonous snakes as well as Shazam music.
The application database contains approximately the following photos:
Spider jumping
Horses or racehorses have 8 pairs of eyes arranged in 3 rows, giving them 360° vision, an excellent eye and an advantage in hunting.
A very large family of arachnids is distributed in a wide variety of areas: tropics, temperate latitudes, forests, steppes, deserts. An internal “hydraulic system” allows them to make precise jumps over long distances.
In 1975, a new species of jumping spider, Euophrys omnisuperstes, was discovered on the summit of Everest.
What to do if there are no dangerous symptoms
Then you can deal with the problem yourself. For this Spider bites/Mayo Clinic:
- Wash the bite area with soap and water.
- Apply antibiotic ointment to prevent infection from developing.
- Apply a cool, damp cloth or ice to the wound Insect bites and stings / US National Library of Medicine for 10 minutes. Then remove and repeat the procedure again after 10 minutes.
- If the spider has bitten your arm or leg, elevate the limb. This will prevent swelling.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever.
Wrap spider
The rarest spiders in the world are found in Australia. The hugging spider Dolophones turrigera has an amazing body structure and coloration.
The upper part of the abdomen of these creatures resembles a shield, the lower part is concave, which allows them to literally “twist” around a tree branch. The body length of the female is 0.8 cm, the male is 0.5 cm. The color allows it to blend in with the bark of trees in the parks where it mainly lives.
The benefits of snakes and spiders
The developers of Critterpedia hope that over time the application will become a popular source of information about poisonous animals. There is even greater hope that the knowledge gained will help people protect themselves from deadly attacks. According to the World Health Organization, about 5.8 million people are attacked by snakes each year and 200 of them die. And all because people do not immediately realize their danger and medical assistance is provided too late. And all over the world there are already effective antidotes - I wrote about one of them in this material.
If you are interested in science and technology news, subscribe to our channel in Yandex.Zen. There you will find materials that were not published on the site!
In addition to all this, the developers believe that the application will improve the relationship between people and nature. At the moment, residents of Australia and other countries are afraid of poisonous creatures, but the service can reduce fear and help people begin to treat animals with understanding. After all, the goal of these spiders and snakes in life is not to bite as many people as possible. In fact, they bring us great benefits by eradicating agricultural pests and helping to create cures for a wide variety of diseases.
Spider Argyrodes colubrinus
The whip spider is very similar to the twig spider. The brownish-gray color allows them to blend perfectly in the thickets, catching prey. With its hind legs, it instantly entangles the victim in a web, leaving it not the slightest chance to get out.
The eggs laid by a female whip spider are yellow-green in color.
Why are Haymakers dangerous?
Are hay spiders dangerous to humans? Haymakers or shepherd spiders do not have poisonous glands, do not bite and are harmless to humans, but they do have odorous glands, the secretion of which, with a pungent iodine odor, repels enemies, and is poisonous to some small animals.
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Ladybug spider
The blackhead, or eresus, is widespread in Central Asia and Europe, including Russia. However, it is very difficult to see representatives of this type of arachnid, since they lead a very discreet lifestyle, settling in burrows, crevices, and under stones.
The male acquires a characteristic color - red with black dots - at the end of his life, before mating. The female is not so brightly colored.
Interesting fact! Every day the female takes out a cocoon with eggs from the den to warm it in the sun.
Picture Insect is a mobile application for searching insect names by photo
The word “Insect” translated from English literally means beetle, insect. This is a large database of insects, which includes more than 1000 species. The Picture Insect application for Android works both online and by uploading a picture to the application.
Mobile application "Picture Insect"
To use it, it is recommended to use a camera with the “Macro” function, which is capable of capturing details and taking high-quality images even when very close. Will also work on smartphones with a regular camera.
Search by picture in “Picture Insect”
- The Insect app can identify insects with 95% accuracy. And from the created pictures you can create your own gallery in your smartphone. And open them at any time to show your friends and family.
- For curious users, the program contains many articles about insects and their species.
- The application contains paid content.
- The application can be used free of charge for 7 days. After which funds can be debited from your Google Pay account.
Crab spider "Bird droppings"
Pavement spiders have modified limbs that serve them for catching prey. One of the most unusual spiders in the world has not only the color of bird waste products, but also a smell as a result.
This is a double win for the unusual creature: it repels birds and attracts flies and moths. The female is 1–1.5 cm in size, the male does not exceed 2.5 mm.
General morphology
An ordinary spider is an animal with 6 pairs of limbs. But a person notices only 4 pairs of legs, since the first 4 limbs of a spider are transformed into organs of nutrition and touch. The body of the arthropod is divided into 2 sections: the cephalothorax and abdomen. Both parts are connected by a short jumper. In the close-up photo of the spider you can see that the cephalothorax is divided by a groove into two parts: the thoracic and cephalic. On the chest there are limbs that provide the spider with movement and help weave a web.
Interesting!
Real spiders are always equipped with spinning glands.
On the head section there are:
- the first pair of limbs transformed into chelicerae;
- the second pair of limbs are pedipalps, which perform the functions of touch and help the spider catch and hold prey;
- eyes;
- mouth opening.
The number of eyes spiders have varies. The majority of arthropods have 8 eyes. Some species have fewer eyes, even their complete absence in spiders living in the eternal darkness of caves.
Interesting!
The reproductive organs of the male are also located on the pedipalps.
Mirror Spider
One of the rarest spiders, the mirror spider, lives in warm tropical forests. His stomach is covered with many reflective plates. The female of the species Thwaitesia reaches a size of 4 mm, the male - 3 mm.
While moving, the mirror particles decrease in size; when the spider stops, they gradually increase until they merge into a solid shell of colored glass.
Spider hunter
Arachnids of the Scparassidae family, widespread in the forests of Australia, are excellent hunters; Large insects, lizards, frogs and rodents become victims. They live under fallen leaves and in the roots of trees.
Hunting spiders run incredibly fast - they cover a distance of 1 meter in 1 second. The body of the creature is pubescent, the color is dark. Despite its terrifying appearance and impressive size (up to 15 cm with limbs), it is not dangerous to humans.
Search by image on the online service tineye.com
It is not necessary to take a photo of an insect with a smartphone to immediately determine its name. This can be done later at home in a cozy environment and on a large computer screen. The online service tineye.com will help you find it out.
Search bar at tineye.com
This graphical search engine can also recognize any objects in the picture that it needs to be provided with. To download on the site, use the button with an arrow pointing up.
Upload the picture to tineye.com
Select a picture on your computer to upload it to the Internet. Results with pictures of the same type of insect will appear on the site. On this site, sites in English often appear in the results. Since this service was developed by foreigners and does not have a Russian-language interface. In any case, you can use translators. Or translate the entire site in the Google Chrome browser.
