How do arachnids reproduce? Black and white spiders in the house: how do they reproduce and what do they eat? What to do if a spider bites you.

Little is known about life cycle the vast majority of tarantulas. We can only assume that it is similar to the cycle of those few carefully studied species, and make certain additions to it based on factors such as seasons, temperature, humidity and habitat. Be careful! These assumptions can easily mislead you. For too long they tried to adapt Terafozide to existing formulas. Surprises await us, and assumptions can only serve as a starting point. This requires other areas of research. Everything stated here may apply only to North American species, but may not be true at all for species from Africa, Asia, etc.

Maturation

In the life of every tarantula there is one significant molt (if it, of course, lives to see it) - this is the adult or largest moult.

The duration of puberty depends very much on the type of tarantula, the sex of the individual, physical condition, nutritional conditions and other factors unknown to us. For example, male tarantulas mature a year and a half earlier than their sisters, but insufficient nutrition can delay this process for two years or more (Baerg 1928).

In one of the North American species, this molt occurs at 10-12 years of life (Baerg 1928). Males of the species Aphonopelma anax can mature at two to three years of age (Breene 1996), and some tropical tarantulas (eg Avicularia spp.) mature even more quickly, perhaps even by 8 months of age (Chagrentier 1992).

Among individuals of the same brood, males mature much earlier than females. One of the hypotheses to explain this fact is that maturation in different times prevents brothers and sisters from mating, and accordingly preserves genetic diversity.

Another hypothesis suggests that males take less time to reach full body weight because they have less weight than females. This leads to the conclusion that females take longer to develop larger reproductive organs and gain greater body weight in preparation for ovulation. If this hypothesis is correct, then avoidance of inbreeding is only a secondary phenomenon. Before the next molt, all tarantulas belonging to the same species appear more or less alike, and even after maturation the adult female still looks very much like a large juvenile.

The male, however, undergoes a radical transformation during his maturation after the final molt. It develops longer legs and a smaller abdomen than the female. In most varieties, the front pair of legs now have prominent, forward-pointing hooks on each tibia.

Male Brachypelma smithi. The tibial hooks and bulbs on the pedipalps are visible.

Male Brachypelma smithi. The tibial hooks on the first pair of walking legs are visible.

The male's character also changes (Petrunkevetch 1911): instead of a balanced, reclusive behavior, he acquired an excitable, hyperactive temperament, characterized by impetuous starts, fast movements and a strong wanderlust. For the male, this maturing molt is the final one. In short, this is the beginning of the end. His days are numbered.

One of the most important transformations occurs in its pedipalps. While his sister's pedipalps still resemble walking legs, his pedipalps look like they're wearing boxing gloves. But make no mistake: he is a lover, not a fighter! The bulbous ends of its pedipalps are now very complexly arranged and adapted for use as specific genital organs. The terminal segments on the pedipalps have changed from relatively simple tarsi and claws to complex secondary reproductive organs used to introduce sperm into the female reproductive tract.

Sex Life

Little is known about the sexual behavior of wild tarantulas. Virtually all we really know comes from observing spiders living in captivity, and such housing can radically change habits and instincts. We report here only what little we know about the wild habits of tarantulas and can only hope for more extensive research in this area.

Charger

Soon after the final moult, the male tarantula spins a web of sperm and thereby prepares itself for a sexual career (Baerg 1928 and 1958; Petrankevich 1911; Minch 1979). This sperm web usually looks like a silky tent, open on both sides. But in general it can occur in one of two options. Some varieties build it with only two open ends. Others weave it also opening from above. In this case, the male will spin an additional small patch of special web inside (apparently with his epiandrous glands), adjacent to the upper edge. If there is no open top, he will spin such a patch inside and adjacent to the edge of one of the open ends. Turning upside down under this web, he will then deposit a drop of his sperm on the underside of that small patch. After which he will climb to the top of the web, clinging to the pedipalps, first one, then the other, stretch through the top (if it is open), or through the open end (if the top is closed) and charge his bulbs with sperm. This process is called sperm induction.

The sperm with which he charges his bulbs is not yet active. Once sperm are produced in the testes, they are encased in a protein capsule and remain dormant until the male is called to fertilize the female (Foelix 1982).

After “charging” his pedipalps, the male leaves the sperm web and goes to look for a female to court. During his wanderings, the male is exposed to conditions common to any predator in this environment, and therefore he must be hyperactive even in order to survive and mate. Thus, male hyperactivity is a necessary survival feature. Where does the male weave his first sperm web? Within his burrow before he leaves the web or after he leaves the burrow to search for a female? The hole seems like a very tight place to perform the necessary movements, but it is much safer than an open space.

The male will spin several sperm webs and charge the tips of his pedipalps more than once. It is capable of mating several times during its sexual career. But there is still very little data indicating how many times a male is capable of recharging his pedipalps, or how many females he can impregnate. Where does the male build additional sperm webs after he leaves his burrow? Does it prefer secluded areas under a rock or other cover, or does it simply stop anywhere there is an object that can be used as a vertical support, oblivious to the rest of the world? Most likely, the answers to these questions depend on the species of the tarantula. Clearly, more extensive research is needed. The righteous girls he usually looks for stay at home, waiting for their suitors. Of course, the greater the distances he covers, the greater the chance he has of finding a female ready to mate. Males sometimes found them by walking almost two kilometers from their home (Dzanowski-Bell 1995).

Taming of the Shrew

Females are probably discovered through some kind of sense (we cannot confidently call it taste or smell) and the tactics of weaving nets around their burrows (Minch 1979). Once the sperm web has been woven, the male will begin to very carefully tap his feet at the entrance to the female's burrow in an attempt to arouse her interest. If this does not produce the desired effect, he will try to very carefully crawl into her hole. At some point in his movement, he will come into contact with the female, and here there are two possible scenarios for the development of events. It can be met with an almost explosive attack. In this case, the female can pounce on him like a ferocious tiger, with bared fangs and the clear intention of having dinner instead of sex. The male must try to hastily retreat from the hole or he will become the main dish on his bride's menu.

In another scenario, the female initially ignores him, acting modest and persistently seeking her affection. In this case, the male will lower his prosoma until it lies on the surface, while holding the opisthosoma high in the air. He extends his forelegs and pedipalps towards the female and, in this position of extreme supplication, drags his body back. This ingratiating appearance almost always works, and while the male pulls himself back, the female modestly follows him. From time to time he pauses his retreat, still maintaining a submissive body position, alternately thrusting and thrusting his pedipalps and forelegs, first from the left side, then from the right, then from the left again, to maintain the female's interest. So, step by step, they move in an unusual procession from the hole to the surface.

The courtship of araneomorphic spiders (the families Araneidae, Pisoridae, Saltikiidae and Lycosideidae, for example) is often very complex and bizarre. In these spiders, the male performs a small dance or plucks web threads from the female’s web in a special way, which seems to turn off her predatory instinct and replaces it with a willingness to accept an assistant in procreation. Some males in the Pizorida family even go so far as to offer the female a recently caught insect before mating.

Courtship among tarantulas is relatively simple and straightforward. Males (and sometimes females) often twitch and strike the ground with their pedipalps and legs before mating. However, this is not as complex a dance as that of the Araneomorph. To date, there have been no seriously documented attempts to determine differences in mating rituals among different tarantula species. In these spiders, it is generally very difficult to determine whether they are currently ready to mate or not. Perhaps this reminds us of what they are, and that a mistaken sign by a male is a sure way for him to be attacked and eaten.

Somewhere on open space When the female is no longer in familiar territory, the male may try to approach her cautiously. By this time, when he has seduced her and lured her out of her hiding place, she already recognizes him as a suitor and remains motionless. The male may touch her with the tips of the front pair of legs or tap them on the ground or on the female several times in a row. After a short pause, he can resume his movements. Usually the male performs these manipulations several times until he is convinced that the female is not planning anything criminal against him. In fact, the sequence of events, the exact number of all movements and the type of foreplay vary depending on the species of tarantula and may be an important key to understanding their phylogeny (Platnek 1971). However, no one has yet conducted truly serious studies of sexual behavior in these spiders.

Copulation

If the female is still passive or if she approaches too slowly, the male carefully moves closer, moving his front legs between her pedipalps and chelicerae. At the same time, the female will raise and spread her fangs. This is not an expression of hostility, but rather of readiness to mate. The male grabs her fangs with his tibial hooks in order to give a stable position to both himself and his girlfriend. It is a mistake to believe that in this way the male makes the female motionless and, as it were, disarms her. Nothing of the kind! At this moment, she is just as eager for intimacy as he is. The authors witnessed many cases where it was the female who took the initiative, initiating mating with the male herself! After the male has securely grabbed the female's fangs, he pushes her back and forth. At this moment, he extends his pedipalps and gently strokes the lower part of her abdomen. If she remains calm and obedient, he will open the embolus of one pedipalp and carefully insert it into the gonopore of the female's epigastric groove. This will constitute the actual act of copulation. After penetration, the female bends sharply almost at a right angle to the male, and he, having emptied one pedipalp, quickly inserts and empties the other.

After copulation, the male holds the female as far away from him as possible until he can safely detach his front legs and start striding! The female often pursues him for a short distance, but is extremely rarely full of determination. Although she is one of the predators he must run from, she is usually more interested in simply driving him away from her. Contrary to the legend that the lover spider lives to seduce as many innocent maidens as possible, there is good reason to believe that it may simply return another evening to mate with a compliant female for a second or third time.

After several weeks or months of maturation, depending on the species, the male tarantula begins to slowly decline and eventually dies. Rarely do they survive winter, and even more rarely do they survive spring (Baerg 1958). To date, there are no reliable data on the lifespan of males of most species, although the authors kept several males that lived for approximately 14-18 months after the final molt.

Undoubtedly, old weak males in nature become easy prey and this is probably why they have a shorter life span than in captivity. In West Texas, the authors collected a large collection of male tarantulas as early spring, and in mid-April. Most of these males, judging by their emaciated appearance, were obviously survivors from the previous autumn. A small but significant proportion of them (perhaps one in five or six) appeared neither emaciated nor showing signs of loss of stubble or any physical damage.

One would expect that in warmer areas, some species of tarantulas might moult and reproduce much earlier than once thought. Subsequently, Breen (1996) described the mating cycle of Athonopelma anax from southern Texas, in which males matured and mated with females in early spring.

In many parts of the tropics, some tarantulas (e.g., Avicularia genus) molt and reproduce regardless of season due to stable temperatures, humidity, and food abundance (Charpentier 1992).

Baerg (1928, 1958) and later Minch (1978) argued that the female does not have sufficient time to lay eggs between breeding in early spring and molting in midsummer. If this were true, then such pairing would be inconsistent. However, Breen (1996) has carefully described the situation that occurs with Aphonopelma anax.

The authors' experience with captive Brachypelm tarantulas has shown that matings before December and after midwinter (January in Canada) are usually fruitless. Thus, it turned out that the mating and oviposition seasons differ for each species, and often radically. These creatures constantly give us unexpected surprises, especially when we think we have all the answers.

Motherhood

Baerg (1928) reports that wild female tarantulas living in Arkansas (for example, Aphonopelma hentzi), having laid eggs, plug the entrances to their burrows soon after mating and thus overwinter. The sperm donated by the male is carefully given shelter in her spermatheca until next spring. And only next spring she will spin a cocoon the size of a walnut, containing a thousand eggs or more. She will take care of him, carefully ventilating her hole and protecting him from predators. While protecting the offspring, the female can be very aggressive.

The timing of egg laying varies significantly. Here are some of the factors that determine layover timing:

1. A species of tarantula;
2. Geographic latitude homeland of the female tarantula;
3. Prevailing climate;
4. Hemisphere.

There may also likely be other factors, but there are so many in reality that any generalizations here may be inappropriate.

Arkansas tarantulas (Athonopelma enzi) typically lay eggs in June or July (Baerg 1958), and those from west Texas lay eggs a month earlier. In captivity, exotic tarantula species can lay eggs in early March. This appears to be the result of keeping them indoors in an artificial climate.

Fertilization of eggs occurs during their laying, and not during mating, as one might assume. Insemination of the female appears to serve at least two functions. This can stimulate her to produce eggs while sequestering the dormant sperm in a convenient, protected location until the right time.

Females of most vertebrates ovulate regardless of whether or not there has been contact with a male. Chickens lay eggs constantly (fertilized or not), and in humans, women undergo ovulation and monthly cycles when complete absence sexual intercourse. It is not yet clear whether this also happens in tarantulas or not. The authors kept many females that did not begin producing eggs until they were fertilized by a male. While sleek and slender before, they became bloated and heavy within a few weeks of mating. It can be assumed that mating or the presence of viable sperm in the female's spermatheca prompted her to begin producing eggs.

On the other hand, Baxter (1993) suggests that female tarantulas can produce eggs without mating. This may occur due to the start of the breeding season, the abundance of food available, or even the simple proximity of a male of the relevant species. The authors have many females who appear extremely heavy and plump, but who have not mated for many years. If they were full of eggs, Baxter's hypothesis would be confirmed. If they simply turned out to be full of adipose tissue, the previous hypothesis would be confirmed. But the authors cannot sacrifice any of their pets, so this question remains unanswered for now. These two hypotheses are not mutually exclusive and both may be correct depending on the circumstances. These creatures have been around too long not to have developed a vast repertoire of little tricks to confuse us.

With a standing population of 150 to 450 adult tarantulas, most of them female, for more than 25 years, the authors had only one female laying eggs without being fertilized by a male. In this case, a female Afonopelma from Texas lived in captivity for over 3 years and underwent three molts. On the fourth spring she produced a cocoon, but the eggs did not develop. Baxter (1993) also reports the laying of infertile eggs by unfertilized females of Psalmopeus cambridges. In a personal letter, Brin reported that he had observed this phenomenon almost thirty times! We are not sure about the timing of cocoon development for most tarantulas in the wild, but it certainly varies with temperature environment and spider species. Somewhat more information is known about the periods of development of some species of tarantulas when the eggs were kept in an incubator. The periods associated with the development of eggs of various tarantulas are presented in Table XII. It must be emphasized that these data are valid only for artificial incubator conditions.

Larvae of tarantulas Afonopelma enzi emerge from cocoons in July - early August and leave the mother's burrow about a week or a little later (Baerg 1958). Soon after this, the female will begin molting. If she has not mated in time to lay fertilized eggs, she will begin to molt somewhat earlier, perhaps in late spring or early summer. Afonopelma anax from southern Texas lays eggs in June–July and molts in August–early September (Breen 1996). Thus, once mating has occurred, the schedule for the remaining females becomes approximately the same as that of the Afonopelma enzi variety.

Along with the rest of the exoskeleton, the lining spermatheca with the remains of sperm will be discarded, and our lady will again become a virgin.

The category of the most popular species includes spiders, which are perfectly adapted for keeping in captivity, are completely unpretentious, and also have an unusual appearance:

curly-haired tarantula spider or Brachyrelma alborilosum– an unpretentious ambush spider, leading a nocturnal lifestyle. Ideal option exotic for beginners, thanks to its original appearance, fairly large body size, and amazing calmness. It is not brightly colored, and its unusual appearance is due to the presence of fairly long hairs with black or white tips. The main color of the spider is brown or brownish-black. Average length the body is 80 mm with paws measuring 16-18 cm. The cost of an adult individual reaches four thousand rubles;
Acanthoscurria Antillensis or Acanthosсurria antillensis- a spider native to the Lesser Antilles. The species belongs to the family Tarantulas. This is a fairly active spider that hides in a shelter during the day and feeds on various insects. The body length reaches 60-70 mm with a leg span of 15 cm. The main color is dark brown with a slight metallic sheen on the carapace. The average cost of an adult reaches 4.5 thousand rubles;
chromatopelma cyaneopubescens Chromatorelma cyaneopubescens is a popular and very beautiful tarantula spider, which is characterized by a body length of 60-70 mm, as well as a leg span of up to 14-15 cm. The main coloring is represented by a combination of a reddish-orange abdomen, bright blue limbs and green carapace. A hardy species that can survive without food for several months. The average cost of an adult reaches 10-11 thousand rubles;
crassiсrus lamanai- a species safe for humans, characterized by the presence of expanded joints in the area of the fourth leg in females. The main coloring of an adult male is black. The body size of the male is up to 3.7 cm and the carapace is 1.6x1.4 cm. Mature females are much larger than males and their body length reaches 7 cm with a leg span of 15 cm. Adult females are colored predominantly in brown tones. The average cost of an adult reaches 4.5 thousand rubles;
cyсlosternum fasciаtum– one of the smallest in size, tropical look The tarantula spider is native to Costa Rica. The maximum leg span of an adult is 10-12 cm with a body length of 35-50 mm. Body color is dark brown with a noticeable reddish tint. The cephalothorax area is colored in reddish or brown shades, the abdomen is black with red stripes, and the legs are gray, black or brown. The average cost of an adult reaches 4 thousand rubles.

Also popular among lovers of domestic exotics are such species of spiders as Cyriocosmus bertae, Grammostola golden-striped and pink, poisonous Teraphosa blondie.

Important! It is strictly not recommended to keep a red-backed spider at home, which is known to many as. This species is considered the most dangerous of the spiders in Australia and secretes neurotoxic poison, so the owner of such an exotic must always have an antidote on hand.

Where and how to keep a house spider

Sedentary spiders that lack the characteristic roundness of the abdomen are most likely sick, malnourished, or suffering from dehydration. In addition to the exotic, you need to choose and purchase the right terrarium for its maintenance, as well as the most important accessories to fill your home.

Selecting a terrarium

In oversized terrariums filled with a large number decorative elements, such exotic items can easily get lost. It is also important to remember that many species are unable to get along with their neighbors, so, for example, it is advisable to keep tarantulas alone.

A terrarium house will be cozy for a spider, optimal sizes which is two lengths of the maximum leg span. As practice shows, even the largest specimens feel great in a home measuring 40x40cm or 50x40cm.

According to their design features, terrariums can be horizontal for terrestrial species and burrowing exotics, as well as vertical for tree spiders. When making a terrarium, as a rule, tempered glass or standard plexiglass is used.

Lighting, humidity, decor

Creating optimal, comfortable conditions for the spider is the key to preserving the life and health of the exotic when kept in captivity:

A special substrate in the form of vermiculite is poured onto the bottom of the terrarium. The standard layer of such backfill should be 30-50 mm. Dry coconut substrate or regular peat chips mixed with sphagnum moss are also very suitable for these purposes;
The temperature regime inside the terrarium is also very important. Spiders belong to the category of very heat-loving pets, so the optimal temperature range will be between 22-28°C. As practice shows, a slight and short-term decrease in temperature cannot cause harm to spiders, but one should not abuse the endurance of such exotics;
Despite the fact that spiders are predominantly nocturnal, they cannot be limited in light. As a rule, to create comfortable conditions, it is enough to have natural lighting in the room, but without direct sunlight hitting the container;
as a shelter for burrowing species of spiders, special “houses” made of pieces of bark or coconut shell. Also, various decorative driftwood or artificial vegetation can be used to decorate the interior space.

The humidity inside the spider's home requires special attention. The presence of a drinking bowl and the correct substrate allows you to ensure optimal performance. You need to control the humidity level using a standard hygrometer. To increase humidity, the terrarium is irrigated with water from a household spray bottle.

Important! It should be noted that overheating the air inside the terrarium is very dangerous for a well-fed spider, since in this case the processes of decay in the stomach are activated and undigested food becomes the cause of exotic poisoning.

Terrarium safety

A terrarium for a spider should be completely safe, both for the most exotic pet and for others. It is especially important to follow safety rules when keeping poisonous spiders.

It should be remembered that spiders are able to move quite deftly even on a vertical surface, so the main condition for safe keeping is the presence of a reliable lid. You should not purchase a container that is too high for terrestrial species of spiders, as otherwise the exotic may fall from a considerable height and suffer a life-threatening abdominal rupture.

To ensure sufficient ventilation for the spider’s life, it is necessary to make perforations in the form of small and numerous holes in the lid of the terrarium.

What to feed house spiders

In order to make the process of feeding and caring for your home spider as convenient as possible, it is recommended to purchase tweezers. With the help of such a simple device, insects are given to spiders, and food remains and waste products that pollute the home are removed from the terrarium. The diet should be as close as possible to the spider’s diet in natural conditions. The standard serving size is about a third of the size of the exotic itself.

This is interesting! The drinking bowl is installed in terrariums for adult individuals and can be represented by an ordinary saucer, slightly pressed into the substrate at the bottom of the container.

Life expectancy of a spider at home

The average life expectancy of an exotic pet in captivity can vary greatly depending on the species and compliance with the rules of keeping:

acanthosсurria antillensis – about 20 years;
chromatоrelma сyanеоrubеsсens – males live on average 3-4 years, and females – up to 15 years;
tiger spider – up to 10 years;
redback spider – 2-3 years;
Argiope vulgaris – no more than a year.

Among the long-lived spiders, females Arhonopelma are deservedly included, the average life expectancy of which is three decades.

Also, record holders for life expectancy include some species of spiders from the family of tarantulas, which are capable of living in captivity for a quarter of a century, and sometimes more.

Spider (Araneae) belongs to the phylum arthropod, class Arachnida, order Spiders. Their first representatives appeared on the planet approximately 400 million years ago.

Spider - description, characteristics and photographs

The body of arachnids consists of two parts:

The cephalothorax is covered with a shell of chitin, with four pairs of long jointed legs. In addition to them, there is a pair of claws (pedipalps), used by mature individuals for mating, and a pair of short limbs with poisonous hooks - chelicerae. They are part of the oral apparatus. The number of eyes in spiders ranges from 2 to 8.
Abdomen with breathing holes located on it and six arachnoid warts for weaving webs.

The size of spiders, depending on the species, ranges from 0.4 mm to 10 cm, and the span of the limbs can exceed 25 cm.

The coloring and pattern on individuals of different species depend on the structural structure of the integument of scales and hairs, as well as the presence and localization of various pigments. Therefore, spiders can have both dull, monochromatic and bright colors of various shades.

Types of spiders, names and photographs

Scientists have described more than 42,000 species of spiders. About 2,900 varieties are known in the CIS countries. Let's consider several varieties:

Blue-green tarantula (Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens)

one of the most spectacular and beautifully colored spiders. The tarantula's abdomen is red-orange, its limbs are bright blue, and its carapace is green. The size of the tarantula is 6-7 cm, with a leg span of up to 15 cm. The spider’s homeland is Venezuela, but this spider is found in Asian countries and on the African continent. Despite belonging to tarantulas, this type does not bite spiders, but only marks special hairs located on the abdomen, and only in case of severe danger. The hairs are not dangerous for humans, but they cause minor burns on the skin, similar in effect to nettle burns. Surprisingly, female chromatopelma are long-lived compared to males: the lifespan of a female spider is 10-12 years, while males live only 2-3 years.

Flower spider (Misumena vatia)

belongs to the family of side-walking spiders (Thomisidae). Color varies from completely white to bright lemon, pink or greenish. Male spiders are small, 4-5 mm long, females reach sizes of 1-1.2 cm. The species of flower spiders is distributed throughout European territory (excluding Iceland), and is found in the USA, Japan, and Alaska. The spider lives in open areas with an abundance of flowering herbs, as it feeds on the juices of butterflies and bees caught in its “embraces”.

Grammostola pulchra (Grammostola Pulchra)

Sidewalk spiders (crab spiders) spend most of their lives sitting on flowers waiting for prey, although some members of the family can be found on tree bark or forest floors.

Representatives of the family of funnel-web spiders place their webs on tall grass and bush branches.

Wolf spiders prefer damp, grassy meadows and swampy wooded areas, where they are found in abundance among fallen leaves.

The water (silver) spider builds a nest underwater, attaching it to various bottom objects with the help of cobwebs. He fills his nest with oxygen and uses it as a diving bell.

What do spiders eat?

Spiders are quite original creatures that eat very interestingly. Some types of spiders may not eat for a long time - from a week to a month or even a year, but if they start, there will be little left. Interestingly, the weight of food that all spiders can eat during the year is several times greater than the weight of the entire population living on the planet today.
How and what do spiders eat? Depending on the species and size, spiders forage and eat differently. Some spiders weave webs, thereby organizing clever traps that are very difficult for insects to notice. Digestive juice is injected into the caught prey, corroding it from the inside. After some time, the “hunter” draws the resulting “cocktail” into his stomach. Other spiders “spit” sticky saliva while hunting, thereby attracting prey to themselves.

The main diet of spiders is insects. Small spiders happily eat flies, mosquitoes, crickets, butterflies, mealworms, cockroaches, and grasshoppers. Spiders that live on the soil surface or in burrows eat beetles and orthoptera, and some species are able to drag a snail or earthworm and eat them there in peace.

The queen spider hunts only at night, creating a sticky web bait for unwary moths. Noticing an insect next to the bait, the queen spinner quickly swings the thread with her paws, thereby attracting the attention of the prey. The moth happily hovers around such a bait, and having touched it, it immediately remains hanging on it. As a result, the spider can calmly attract it to itself and enjoy the prey.

Large tropical tarantula spiders happily hunt small frogs, lizards, other spiders, mice, including bats, as well as small birds.

And this type of spider Brazilian tarantulas, can easily hunt small snakes and snakes.

Aquatic species of spiders get their food from the water, catching tadpoles with the help of a web, small fish or midges floating on the surface of the water. Some spiders, which are predators, due to the lack of prey, can also get enough of plant food, which includes pollen or plant leaves.

Haymaking spiders prefer cereal grains.

Judging by numerous notes from scientists, a huge number of spiders destroy small rodents and insects several times more than the animals living on the planet.

How does a spider weave a web?

In the back of the spider's abdomen there are from 1 to 4 pairs of arachnoid glands (arachnoid warts), from which a thin thread of web stands out. This is a special secret, which today many call liquid silk. Coming out of thin spinning tubes, it hardens in air, and the resulting thread turns out to be so thin that it is quite difficult to see with the naked eye.

In order to weave a web, the spider spreads its spinning organs, and then waits for a light breeze so that the spun web catches on a nearby support. After this happens, he moves along the newly created bridge with his back down and begins to weave a radial thread.

When the base is created, the spider moves in a circle, weaving thin transverse threads into its “product”, which are quite sticky.

It is worth noting that spiders are quite economical creatures, so they absorb damaged or old webs and then reuse them.

And the web becomes old very quickly, since the spider weaves it almost every day.

Types of web

There are several types of webs, differing in shape:

Orb web is the most common type, with the minimum number of threads. Thanks to this weaving, it turns out to be unnoticeable, but not always elastic enough. From the center of such a web radial threads-webs diverge, connected by spirals with a sticky base. Usually round spider webs are not very large, but tropical ones tree spiders capable of weaving similar traps reaching two meters in diameter.

Cone-shaped web: This type of web is made by the funnel-web spider. Usually it creates its hunting funnel in tall grass, while it itself hides in its narrow base, waiting for prey.

The zigzag web is its “author”, a spider from the genus Argiope.

Spiders from the family Dinopidae spinosa weave a web directly between their limbs, and then simply throw it onto an approaching victim.

Spider Bolas ( Mastophora cornigera) weaves a thread of web on which there is a sticky ball with a diameter of 2.5 mm. With this ball, impregnated with female moth pheromones, the spider attracts prey - a moth. The victim falls for the bait, flies closer to it and sticks to the ball. After which the spider calmly pulls the victim towards itself.

Darwin's spiders ( Caerostris darwini), living on the island of Madagascar, weave giant webs, the area of which ranges from 900 to 28,000 square meters. cm.

The web can be divided according to the principle of responsibility of its weaving and type:

household - from such webs spiders make cocoons and so-called doors for their homes;
strong - spiders use it to weave nets, with the help of which the main hunt will be carried out;
sticky - it is used only for preparing jumpers in fishing nets and sticks so strongly when touched that it is very difficult to remove.

Spider Reproduction

As spiders grow, from time to time they shed their tight chitinous shell and acquire a new one. They can molt up to 10 times in their entire life. Spiders are dioecious, with the female being much larger than the male. During the mating season, which lasts from mid-autumn to early spring, the male fills the bulbs located at the ends of his pedipalps with sperm and goes in search of a female. After performing the “mating dance” and fertilization, the male spider hastily retreats and dies after some time.

After two and a half months, the female spider lays eggs, and after 35 days small spiderlings appear, living in the web until the first molt. Females reach sexual maturity at 3-5 years of age.

Among spiders, only poisonous ones pose a danger to humans. In the CIS countries there is one such species - the karakurt, or black widow.

With a timely injection of a special serum, the bite goes away without consequences.

Recently, it has become fashionable to keep spiders at home. For beginners, we recommend the white-haired tarantula spider, which is a harmless representative of the arachnid class.

According to statistics, 6% of the world's population suffers from arachnophobia - the fear of spiders. Particularly sensitive people panic when they see a spider in a photo or on TV.
Frightening-looking tarantula spiders, with a paw span of up to 17 cm, are actually calm and non-aggressive, thanks to which they have earned the reputation of being popular pets. However, owners must protect their pets from stress, otherwise the spider sheds its bright hairs, which cause an allergic reaction in humans.
The most poisonous spiders black widows are considered, their variety is karakurt, as well as Brazilian soldier spiders. The venom of these spiders, containing powerful neurotoxins, instantly attacks the victim's lymphatic system, which in most cases leads to cardiac arrest.
Many people mistakenly believe that tarantula venom is fatal to humans. In reality, a tarantura bite causes only a slight swelling, similar to a wasp sting.
Wall crab spiders, named Selenopidae in Latin after the Greek goddess of the Moon, move sideways as well as backwards.
Jumping spiders are excellent jumpers, especially over long distances. As a safety net, the spider attaches a silk web thread to the landing site. In addition, this type of spider can climb glass.
When chasing prey, some species of spiders can run almost 2 km in 1 hour without stopping.
Fishing spiders have the ability to glide across the water surface like water striders.
Most species of spiders have an individual form of woven web. House (funnel) spiders weave webs in the shape of a funnel; dictine weaver spiders are characterized by angular webs. The web of Nicodam spiders looks like a sheet of paper.
Lynx spiders are distinguished by a property that is uncharacteristic of spiders: to protect the clutch, females spit on the threat of poison, although this poison does not pose a danger to humans.
Female wolf spiders are very caring mothers. Until the children gain independence, the mother “carries” the cubs on herself. Sometimes there are so many spiders that only its 8 eyes remain open on the spider’s body.
The New Zealand cellar spider was immortalized in cinema thanks to director Peter Jackson, who used this species as the prototype for the spider Shelob.
Very beautiful flower spiders They lie in wait for prey on flowers, and adult females, as a camouflage, change their color depending on the color of the petals.
The history of mankind is closely intertwined with the image of the spider, which is reflected in many cultures, mythology and art. Each nation has its own traditions, legends and signs associated with spiders. Spiders are even mentioned in the Bible.
In symbolism, the spider personifies deceit and immeasurable patience, and the spider’s venom is considered a curse that brings misfortune and death.

Arachnids are characterized by the division of the body into a cephalothorax and abdomen (segmented in scorpions and non-segmented in spiders). Ticks do not have body divisions. There are 4 pairs of walking limbs. The eyes are simple. There are no antennae. Respiratory organs - trachea or lungs. Dioecious.

The body of arachnids is covered with a thin cuticle, under which the hypodermis and basement membrane are located. The cuticle performs a protective function. The cephalothorax bears 6 pairs of jointed limbs. Two pairs of modified limbs surround the mouth opening. The first pair - chelicerae - have claws at the end in which the ducts of the poisonous glands open; their secretion has a paralyzing effect. The second pair is the pedipalps; they hold and turn prey. In scorpions, the pedipalps look like claws.

The function of walking legs is performed by 4 pairs of limbs of the cephalothorax. The abdomen of adult arachnids lacks typical limbs. Their modification is arachnoid warts located at the end of the abdomen. The arachnoid glands themselves (up to 1000 in number) are located in the abdominal cavity. They secrete a sticky, stretchy substance that hardens in air, forming a web. To catch prey, the spider builds a web. He paralyzes an insect caught in a web by introducing a secretion of “poisonous” salivary glands, which begins splitting nutrients and leads to “liquefaction” of food. Only after this does the spider absorb semi-liquid food, the digestion of which ends in its body. Thus, digestion in a spider can be called external-internal. The function of the pump during feeding is performed by the pharynx, which is equipped with strong muscles. The liver ducts open into the midgut, and digested substances are absorbed there. Undigested residues are excreted through the hindgut and anus.

The excretory organs are the Malpighian tubules, which open into the digestive canal at the border of the middle and hind intestines, and the coxal glands - modified metanephridia, which open at the base of the first pair of walking limbs.

The circulatory system is not closed. The heart is located on the dorsal side of the abdomen in the form of a tube above the intestines. Some small ticks do not have a heart. From the heart, blood flows through the vessels to the head. In the anterior part, it pours into the spaces between the organs and is directed to the posterior end of the body. On the abdominal side, oxygenated blood collects in vessels and returns to the heart. The blood of arachnids contains a respiratory pigment - hemocyanin.

The respiratory system is represented by a pair of pulmonary sacs and tracheal tubes. The tracheae open on the abdomen with respiratory openings - stigmas.

The nervous system is built according to the type of abdominal nerve chain, in which the number of ganglia decreases due to their fusion. Metamerism of the nerve chain is expressed in scorpions and not expressed in ticks.

The organs of vision are simple eyes located on the cephalothorax (from 2 to 12). Sensitive hairs on the pedipalps perceive air vibrations; it is through them that the spider learns about the prey caught in the net. The organs of smell and chemical sense are also developed.

Paired gonads are located in the abdomen. Reproduction is sexual. Insemination is internal. The female is much larger than the male - this is a sign of sexual dimorphism. In the fall, after fertilization, the female spider weaves a cocoon and lays eggs in it. They overwinter in a cocoon, and in the spring small spiders emerge from the eggs (direct development). Scorpios experience viviparity.

The breeding biology of tarantulas is complex and, it must be said, has not yet been sufficiently studied. Young spiders of both sexes lead a similar lifestyle and actually do not differ in their behavior.

Sexually mature males are very different from females in their lifestyle and appearance in most species. In many species, the males are brightly colored. They are, as a rule, smaller, have proportionally more elongated legs, a different structure of the pedipalps, and also differ from females in much greater mobility.

Puberty in males occurs earlier than in females. The average maturity of males is 1.5 years, in females it occurs no earlier than 2 years (in some species the difference is even more divergent in time - 1.5 and 3 years, respectively), therefore it seems virtually impossible for “closely related” crossing of spiders emerging from one cocoon, in natural conditions. However, this is possible in captivity when raising males and females by artificially creating for them different temperature and humidity conditions and feeding regimes from an early age.

Before mating, a mature male weaves a so-called sperm - web, usually having a triangular or quadrangular shape, on the underside of which he secretes a drop of sperm. The sperm is captured by the copulatory apparatus, after which the male begins to search for a female. At this time, his behavior is directly opposite to that of the previous period of life. He leads a wandering lifestyle, is highly active and can be seen moving even during the daytime, covering quite significant distances in search of a female (7-9 km per night ( Shillington et al. 1997).

The detection of a female occurs mainly through touch (vision in no way affects this process: spiders with blurred eyes easily find females) by the odorous trail she leaves on the substrate or web near the burrow (for example, the female Aphonopelma hentzi weaves a ball at the entrance to the burrow from the web).

Having found the female, the male carefully moves inside the hole. When meeting a female, two scenario scenarios are possible.

In the first option, if the female is not ready to mate, she quickly attacks the male, spreading the chelicerae and preparing to grab him. In this case, the male is forced to hastily retreat, otherwise he may not be perceived as a potential partner, but risks turning into a “hearty dinner”, or losing one or more limbs.
In the second scenario, the female, as a rule, does not initially show any interest in the male. In this case, the male lowers his cephalothorax and raises his abdomen, stretching his outstretched front legs and pedipalps forward, backing towards the exit from the hole, thereby attracting the attention of the female and, as it were, inviting her to follow him. From time to time he stops and moves his front legs and pedipalps now to the right, now to the left, shuddering with his whole body so that the female’s interest in him does not wane until they leave the hole and come to the surface. Here, having space to move safely, he feels more confident.

Unlike other species of spiders, which are characterized by complex mating behavior, which consists of performing peculiar “wedding dances”, for example, species of the family Araneidae, Salticidae, Lycosidae, or in offering a female recently killed prey (in Pisauridae), courtship by tarantulas is relatively simpler.

The male periodically cautiously approaches the female, quickly touches her with the tips of the front pair of legs and pedipalps or “drums” on the substrate. Usually he repeats this procedure several times with minor breaks until he is convinced that the female’s behavior does not pose a danger to him and she will not cause him harm (until now, studies have not been conducted on the presence of features characteristic of the mating behavior of various species tarantulas).

If the female is still passive, the male will slowly approach her, bringing his front paws between her pedipalps and chelicerae, which the female usually spreads when ready to mate. Then he, as it were, rests against them with his tibial hooks in order to take a stable position and tilts her cephalothorax back, “stroking” the lower surface of the base of the abdomen.

If the female expresses readiness to mate (which is also often expressed in frequent "drum" sound, made by kicking the legs on the substrate), he unfolds the embolus of one of the pedipalps and introduces it into the gonopore, located in epigastric groove. The male performs the same action with the second pedipalp. This is actually the moment of copulation itself, which lasts literally a few seconds, after which the male, as a rule, quickly runs away, since usually the female immediately begins to chase him.

Contrary to popular belief that a female often eats her partner after mating, in most cases this does not happen (moreover, cases of males eating females are known) if there is enough space for him to move a considerable distance, and the male is able to after some time fertilize several more females. Often a female also mates with different males in one season.

Fertilization egg theft occurs in uterus, with which they communicate seminal receptacles, and after a certain period after copulation(from 1 to 8 months), the duration of which is directly dependent on various conditions (season, temperature, humidity, food availability) and the specific type of tarantula, the female lays eggs, weaving them into cocoon. This whole process takes place in the living chamber of the burrow, which turns into a nest. The cocoon, as a rule, consists of two parts, fastened at the edges. First, the main part is woven, then masonry is laid on it, which is then braided with the covering part. Some species ( Avicularia spp., Theraphosa blondi) weave their “protective hairs” into the walls of the cocoon to protect it from possible enemies.

Unlike most other spiders, the female tarantula guards her clutch and cares for the cocoon, periodically turning it over with the help of chelicerae and pedipalps and moving it depending on changing conditions of humidity and temperature. This is associated with certain difficulties with artificial incubation of spider eggs at home, which is often advisable, since there are frequent cases of females eating laid cocoons, both as a result of stress caused by anxiety and “for unknown reasons.” For this purpose, collectors in the USA, Germany, England and Australia have developed an incubator, and some hobbyists, taking cocoons from females, take on their “maternal” functions, turning the cocoon by hand several times a day (see also Breeding).

Interestingly, for several species of tarantula spiders, there are known facts of laying after mating several (one or two) cocoons one after another with a time difference, usually no more than a month: Hysterocrates spp.., Stromatopelma spp., Holothele spp.., Psalmopoeus spp.., Tapinauchenius spp.., Metriopelma spp.., Pterinochilus spp.. (Rick West, 2002, oral communication), Ephebopus murinus And E. cyanogathus (Alex Huuier, 2002, oral communication), Poecilotheria regalis (Ian Evenow, 2002, oral communication). At the same time, the percentage of unfertilized eggs increases significantly in repeated clutches.

The number of eggs laid by a female varies depending on different types and is related to its size, age, and other factors. Record number of eggs known for species Lasiodora parahybana and is approximately 2500 pieces! On the contrary, in small species it does not exceed 30-60. Incubation periods are also different - from 0.8 to 4 months. Interestingly, tree species in general are characterized by more short terms than for terrestrial ones (see table).

№	View	Incubation time*	Source of information
1.	Acanthoscurria musculosa	83	Eugeniy Rogov, 2003
2.	Aphonopelma anax	68	John Hoke, 2001
3.	Aphonopelma caniceps	64	McKee,1986
4.	Aphonopelma chalcodes	94	Schultz & Schultz
5.	Aphonopelma hentzi	76	McKee,1986
		56	Baerg, 1958
6.	Aphonopelma seemanni	86	McKee,1986
7.	Avicularia avicularia	52	McKee,1986
		39, 40,45	Garrick Odell, 2003
		51	Stradling, 1994
8.	Avicularia metallica	68	Todd Gearhart, 1996
9.	Avicularia sp. (ex. Peru)	37	Emil Morozov, 1999
		59	Denis A. Ivashov, 2005
10.	Avicularia versicolor	29	Thomas Schumm, 2001
		46	Mikhail F. Bagaturov, 2004
		35	Todd Gearhart, 2001
11.	Brachypelma albopilosum	72	McKee,1986
		75, 77	Schultz & Schultz
12.	Brachypelma auratum	76	McKee,1986
13.	Brachypelma emilia	92	Schultz & Schultz
14.	Brachypelma smithi	91	McKee,1986
		66	Todd Gearhart, 2001
15.	Brachypelma vagans	69	McKee,1986
		71	Todd Gearhart, 2002
16.	Ceratogyrus behuanicus	20	Phil&Tracy, 2001
17.	Ceratogyrus darlingi	38	Thomas Ezendam, 1996
18.	Cyclosternum fasciatum	52	McKee,1986
19.	Chilobrachys fimbriatus	73	V. Sejna, 2004
20.	Encyocratella olivacea	28	V. Kumar, 2004
21.	Eucratoscelus constrictus	25	Rick C. West, 2000
22	Eucratoscelus pachypus	101	Richard C. Gallon, 2003
23.	Eupalaestrus campestratus	49	Todd Gearhart, 1999
24.	Eupalaestrus weijenberghi	76	Costa&Perez-Miles, 2002
25.	Grammostola aureostriata	29	Todd Gearhart, 2000
26.	Grammostola burzaquensis	50-55	Ibarra-Grasso, 1961
27.	Grammostola iheringi	67	McKee,1986
28.	Grammostola rosea	54	McKee,1986
29.	Haplopelma lividum	56	Rhys A. Bridgida, 2000
		60	John Hoke, 2001
		52	Mikhail Bagaturov, 2002
30.	Haplopelma minax	30	John Hoke, 2001
31.	Haplopelma sp. "longipedum"	73	Todd Gearhart, 2002
32	Heterothele villosella	67	Amanda Weigand, 2004
33	Heteroscodra maculata	39	Graeme Wright, 2005
34	Holothele incei	36, 22	Benoit, 2005
35.	Hysterocrates scepticus	40	Todd Gearhart, 1998
36.	Hysterocrates gigas	37, 52	Mike Jope, 2000
		89	Chris Sainsbury, 2002
37.	Lasiodora cristata	62	Dirk Eckardt, 2000
38.	Lasiodora difficilis	68	Todd Gearhart, 2002
39.	Lasiodora parahybana	106	Dirk Eckardt, 2000
		85	Eugeniy Rogov, 2002
40.	Megaphobema robustum	51	Dirk Eckardt, 2001
41.	Nhandu coloratovillosus	59	Mikhail Bagaturov, 2004
42.	Oligoxystre argentinense	37-41	Costa&Perez-Miles, 2002
43.	Pachistopelma rufonigrum	36,40	S.Dias&A.Brescovit, 2003
44	Pamphobeteus sp. platyomma	122	Thomas (Germany), 2005
45.	Phlogiellus inermis	40	John Hoke, 2001
46.	Phlogius crassipes	38	Steve Nunn, 2001
47.	Phlogius stirlingi	44	Steve Nunn, 2001
48	Phormictopus cancerides	40	Gabe Motuz, 2005
49	Phormictopus sp. "platus"	61	V. Vakhrushev, 2005
50.	Plesiopelma longistrale	49	F.Costa&F.Perez-Miles, 1992
51.	Poecilotheria ornata	66	Todd Gearhart, 2001
52.	Poecilotheria regalis	43	Todd Gearhart, 2002
		77	Chris Sainsbury, 2005
53.	Psalmopoeus cambridgei	46	Alexey Sergeev, 2001
54.	Psalmopoeus irminia	76	Guy Tansley, 2005
55.	Pterinochilus chordatus	23, 38	Mike Jope, 2000
56.	Pterinochilus murinus	26, 37	Mike Jope, 2000
		22, 23, 25	Phil Messenger, 2000
57.	Stromatopelma calceatum	47	Eugeniy Rogov, 2002
58.	Stromatopelma c. griseipes	53	Celerier, 1981
59	Thrigmopoeus truculentus	79, 85, 74	J.-M.Verdez&F.Cleton, 2002
60.	Tapinauchenius plumipes	48	John Hoke, 2001
61.	Theraphosa blondi	66	Todd Gearhart, 1999
62.	Vitalius roseus	56	Dirk Eckardt, 2000

The size of babies born varies widely from 3-5 mm (for example, Cyclosternum spp.. ) up to 1.5 cm in leg span of the goliath tarantula Theraphosa blondi. Newborn spiders of arboreal species, as a rule, are larger than those born from terrestrial tarantulas, and their number is usually noticeably smaller (usually does not exceed 250 pieces).
Juvenile spiders are very mobile and, at the slightest danger, hide, run to the nearest shelter, or quickly burrow into the soil. This behavior has been noted for both terrestrial and arboreal species.

Hatching of juveniles from eggs of the same clutch occurs at more or less the same time. Before hatching, small spines are formed at the base of the pedipalps of the embryo - "egg teeth", with the help of which he breaks the shell of the egg and comes into being. Before the so-called postembryonic molt, which usually occurs inside a cocoon, the hatched spider has very thin covers, its appendages are not dismembered, it cannot feed and lives off yolk sac remaining in the intestines. This life stage is called "prelarva"(according to another classification - 1st stage nymph). After the next molt (3-5 weeks), the prelarva enters the stage "larvae" (nymphs stage 2), also not yet feeding, but slightly more mobile and already having primitive claws on the paws and developed chelicerae ( Vachon, 1957).

From the next ( postembryonic) by molting, young spiders are formed, which, becoming more active and able to feed on their own, emerge from the cocoon and at first, as a rule, stick together, and then scatter in different sides starting to live independently.

Usually, after the juveniles emerge from the cocoon, the mother no longer cares for them, but an interesting feature of the biology of the species of the genus Hysterocrates sp. from the island of Sao Tome, which consists in the fact that young spiderlings live with the female for up to six months after leaving the cocoon. At the same time, the female shows real care for her children, not seen in any other member of the tarantula family, actively protecting them from any possible danger and obtaining food for them. Similar facts are known regarding Haplopelma schmidti (E. Rybaltovsky), as well as tarantulas Pamphobeteus spp.. (various sources).

The biology and lifestyle of young spiders are usually similar to those of adult spiders. They set up shelters for themselves and actively hunt for food items of suitable size. The number of molts during a life varies, depending on the size of the spider and its gender (males always have fewer molts), ranging from 9 to 15 per life. The overall lifespan of female tarantula spiders also varies greatly.

Arboreal, even such large spiders as Poecilotheria spp.. , as well as tarantulas of the genus Pterinochilus live no more than 7 - 14 years. Large terrestrial spiders, and especially spiders of America, live in captivity up to 20 years, and according to individual reports, even to a more respectable age (for example, the age of a female Brachypelma emilia , who lived with S. A. Shultz And M.J. Schultz, was estimated to be at least 35 years old).

The life expectancy of males is significantly less and, in general, is limited to 3-3.5 years. The fact is that males, as mentioned above, mature earlier than females (at 1.5-2.5 years), and, as a rule, the average lifespan of male tarantula spiders of the last instar (after the last molt) is five to six months. However, significantly longer periods are known for individual specimens of a number of species.

Thus, according to Dr. Claudio Lipari, the maximum life span of males of the last instar of the Brazilian Grammostola pulchra amounted to at least 27 months, and one copy lived with him for more than four years.

Other long-lived male tarantulas of the last instar, according to Luciana Rosa, the following:

Grammostola rosea- 18 months, Megaphobema velvetosoma - 9 months, Poecilotheria formosa- 11 months, Poecilotheria ornata- 13 months, Poecilotheria rufilata - 17 months.

According to information from a Moscow collector Igor Arkhangelsky last instar male Brachypelma vagans lived in captivity 24 months(however, for the last few months it was fed artificially), and another individual of the same species lived 20 months.

According to a Canadian scientist Rick West adult male tarantula Phormictopus cancerides lived with Allana McKee, having lost the upper segments of the pedipalps after molting, 27 months, and the male Brachypelma albopilosum at the very Rick West - 30 months after reaching maturity and died during the second molt (personal communication).

The following facts of longevity among male tarantulas were noted: Lasiodora parahybana : 3 years Jeff Lee, 2 years 6 months Joy Reed and 2 years 3 months Jim Hitchiner.

Also the male of the species Grammostola rosea lived 2 years 5 months with Jay Staples.
There is a unique case when an amateur Jay Stotsky small male woody type Poecilotheria regalis molted safely twice! at the last instar, with an interval between molts of 18 months. At the same time, the pedipalps and one chelicerae lost during the first molt were completely restored after the second moult!

It should be true that such cases are known only when tarantulas are kept in captivity.

Regarding the onset of sexual maturity of tarantula spiders, the following, often contradictory, information is available.

Males of the tarantula genus Avicularia reach sexual maturity by 2.5 years, females by 3 years ( Stradling 1978, 1994). Baerg (Baerg, 1928, 1958) reports that males Aphonopelma spp.. reach maturity at 10-13 years, females at 10-12 years. Tarantulas Grammostola burzaquensis become sexually mature at 6 years of age ( Ibarra-Grasso, 1961), Acanthoscurria sternalis – at 4-6 years ( Galiano 1984, 1992).

The information provided by these authors most likely refers to observations in nature. It is necessary to take into account that in captivity, the timing of the onset of sexual maturity of tarantula spiders is generally shortened, and often quite significantly.

In conclusion, I would like to note that natural enemies Tarantula spiders actually do not have them in captivity.

The only creatures that are hunters of tarantulas in nature are hawk wasps from the family Pompilidae, of which the species of genera are well studied Pepsis And Hemipepsis(the largest reach 10 cm in length), paralyzing the spider, laying an egg on its abdomen, the hatched larva from which, throughout its further development, feeds on such a kind of “canned food” ( Dr. F. Punzo, 1999, S. Nunn, 2002, 2006).

Watch an interesting clip about this.

The kind like Scolopendra gigantea, some specimens of which reach 40 cm in length, are able to cope with a spider of considerable size.

Also representatives of the genus Ethmostigmus from Australia are known as predators of tarantulas of the local fauna.

At the same time, scorpios of childbirth Isometrus, Liocheles, Lychas, Hemilychas , as probably some Urodacus, are not averse to snacking on juvenile tarantulas, and scorpions from the genus Isometroides are generally known to specialize in eating spiders, and can regularly be found in old burrows belonging to tarantula spiders ( S. Nunn, 2006).

In addition to those listed as natural enemies of tarantulas, large spiders have been noted in nature Lycosidae, and for Australia also a spider Latrodectus hasselti, in whose nets the remains of adult male tarantulas were regularly found. And, undoubtedly, among invertebrate animals the main enemy of tarantulas, like other spiders, is ants.

When considering the natural enemies of tarantulas, one cannot help but dwell on some vertebrates. Australian arachnologist Stephen Nunn repeatedly observed as the largest frog in Australia Litoria infrafrenata(white-lipped tree frog) caught and ate sexually mature males. Similarly, the American aga toad introduced into Australia ( Bufo marinus), which is one of the natural enemies of theraphosides in Central America, eats the latter in Australia. In this regard, it is interesting that we were in a hole with a female and 180 young tarantulas of the species that had just emerged from the cocoon. Selenocosmia sp.. a small specimen of the aga toad, which probably “eaten up” young tarantulas ( S. Nunn, 2006).

The development cycle from egg to adult is on average 20-21 days.

These flies, called humpback flies, can be confused with other flies - the well-known fruit flies.

However, fruit flies are extremely rare in tarantula terrariums and are distinguished by their red eyes.

I would also like to note that, in addition to the previously mentioned species of frogs, representatives of a small group of dipterous insects are also found in spider burrows.

They lay eggs directly on the host spider itself or in the soil of its burrow. In this case, the larvae concentrate in the area of the tarantula’s mouth or in the substrate and feed on organic debris.

Interestingly, for the three South American tarantula species, Theraphosa blondi, Megaphobema robustum And Pamphobeteus vespertinus are characterized by their own specific species of dipterans.

In home terrariums, as a rule, there are representatives of two groups of winged insects - humpback flies of the family Phoridae(recently widespread among collectors around the world) and the so-called “pot flies”.

The vast majority of “pot flies” found in tarantula terrariums are species of mosquitoes of the family Fungivoridae And Sciaridae, and are found in tarantula containers with insufficient ventilation due to prolonged waterlogging of the substrate and its subsequent decay, as well as decomposition in conditions of high humidity of food debris and spider feces, as well as plant remains, resulting in the formation of a fungal microculture, which their larvae feed on .
Fans of growing flowers in greenhouses regularly encounter these insects. They are also sometimes found in potted plants. indoor plants, which is where they apparently got their name. They are smaller in size and thinner than the Diptera family Phoridae, with dark wings and actively fly.

Gobat flies of the family Phoridae they look more pointed and humpbacked compared to the “potted” ones, they fly very rarely - only when disturbed, mainly moving along the substrate with characteristic jerks.

You can get rid of them by replacing the substrate and disinfecting the tarantula's terrarium, transplanting it into a new container. Drying the substrate also helps, making sure to provide the tarantula with a container of water to drink.

In general, they are completely safe for healthy spiders, but they can cause anxiety. However, these problems, as a rule, do not arise if there is good ventilation of the terrarium and the use of a ventilation mesh through which the penetration of dipterans is impossible.

However, it should be taken into account that humpback larvae can penetrate cocoons broken off by tarantulas and eat eggs and developing larvae, as well as develop on weakened and sick individuals. Adults can also be carriers of various diseases, incl. transport nematode eggs.

Finally, I note that in terrariums with tarantulas, representatives of invertebrates - collembolas and wood lice - introduced, usually with the substrate, are occasionally found, which also do not harm them. At the same time, some collectors specifically populate terrariums with tarantulas with a culture of tropical wood lice Trichorhina tomentosa , because they feed on the waste products of spiders and destroy excess organic residues in the substrate.

What do you need to know about tarantulas, what difficulties arise when keeping and handling them, and what conditions need to be created so that they not only feel good in your home, but also reproduce?