A Little Bit More
The completed web has a “catching zone” formed by a more or less continuous spiral of tacky thread that winds from the periphery toward the center. The spider stops short of the hub, and leaves a characteristic “free zone” between the sticky portion and the central, nonsticky hub where the spider can wait. The web is not constructed vertically, as it may appear, but is tilted somewhat: the spider hangs on the underside of the web and gravity keeps its body away from the sticky threads, making it easier to move about safely. The ends of a spider’s legs have hooks, toothed claws and bristles that help it hold onto the threads as it moves about the web.
Although many spiders have good eyesight, many web-spinning spiders rely mainly on their sense of touch to locate and capture prey in their traps. The Garden Spider, shown in the web, waits in the center or on the periphery to feel the vibrations from a struggling insect that blunders into the web. Although the vibrations alert the spider to the presence of an insect, they don’t tell it where the prey is located, so the spider tugs at the strands of the web to pinpoint its prey. This tugging procedure is done so rapidly that the casual observer doesn’t even see it. Once its prey is located, the spider runs out, grabs its prey, and envelopes it in fresh thread by rolling it round and round until it is completely immovable. While it is ensnaring its victim, it also bites the insect, injecting venom and digestive enzymes into its body.
Activities
#1 Spider Hunt
Objectives: Better Understanding of Spiders
Materials: Envelope
It’s surprising how common spiders really are – spiders seem to be everywhere when you begin looking. With just a little persistence and careful hunting, students should be able to find spiders, or evidence of spiders, around their home and/or school.
Tell your students they’re going on a spider hunt. Your school setting may not be appropriate, so if not, they can do this at home and report back. Students should look in corners, under stairs, behind doors, in the basement, or wherever there are undisturbed areas of home and school. If they look carefully, they are sure to find spiders or evidence of spiders at almost any time of year.
If live spiders are found, they should be left undisturbed but often you’ll find remnants of spiders (web or skins) even though the spider itself is no longer present. Spiders need to shed their skin as they grow and frequently their exoskeletons (outside skeletons) are left in old webs. The students will probably think they’re looking at dead spiders but with a closer look should be able to determine that they’re looking at the exoskeleton – often the exoskeleton’s legs are drawn up together.
The students can carefully remove the exoskeleton (do so by removing the web, don’t touch the delicate exoskeleton) and place it in an envelope to bring back into the classroom to share. You’ll have trouble getting the exoskeleton into the envelope and your hand away as the spider threads will still be sticky, but be gentle and keep trying. Once you’re ready to share what you’ve found, a simple hand lens will be helpful in seeing the detail.
Activity#2: Spider Web Wall-hanging
Objective: Better understanding of spider webs
Materials: See online instructions @ www.caron-net.com/kidfiles/kidproct.html
Visit this web site and you’ll find instructions and good step-by-step visuals for how to make your own wall-hanging spider web.
Actividad #1: Busqueda de Araña
Objectives: Mejor conocimiento de arañas
Materials: Un sobre de carta
No es una sorpresa lo común que son las arañas- las arañas parecen estar en todos lados cuando empieza a mirar. Con un poco de persistencia y su caza cuidadosa, los estudiantes pueden encontrar arañas, o evidencia de arañas, alrededor de su casa o la escuela.
Dígale a sus estudiantes que van a buscar arañas. Quizás su escuela no sea apropiada, entonces, si no es, pueden hacer la actividad en la casa y reportar sus encuentros. Los estudiantes deben buscarlas en las esquinas, debajo de las escaleras, en el sotáno o dondequiera que hay áreas de la casa o la escuela ininterrumpidos. Si miran cuidadosamente, ellos estarán seguros de encontrar arañas o evidencia de arañas en casi cualquier momento del año.
Si encuentren a arañas vivas, ellos deben dejarlas sin tocar pero muchas veces pueden encontar restos de arañas (telaraña o pieles) aunque la araña ya no está presente. Las arañas necesitan mudar de su piel mientras crecen y frecuentamente sus exoesqueletos (esqueletos externos) están dejados en su telaraña. Los estudiantes probablemente creerán que están mirando arañas muertas pero al mirarla mas cercana deben poder determinar que están mirando el exoesqueleto- muchas veces las piernas del exoesqueleto se juntan.
Los estudiantes pueden sacar el exoesqueleto (hagálo por quitar la telaraña, no toque el exoesqueleto delicado) y pongálo en su sobre para llevarlo al salón de clase para compartirlo. Ellos tendrán problemas poniendo el exoesqueleto en un sobre y quitando la mano porque los hilos de la araña estarán pegajosos todavía, pero con cuidado y siga intentando. Cuando está listo para compartir lo que encontraron, una lupa simple le ayudará para observar el detalle.
Actividad #2: Un Colgante de Telaraña
Objectives: Mejor conocimiento de telarañas
Materials: Ver las instrucciones en el internet @ www.caron-net.com/kidfiles/kidproct.html
Visita esta pagína de internet y puede encontrar instrucciones y buenos visuales que son paso por paso para cómo hacer su propia colgante de telaraña.
Questions
Do you have a question for a naturalist? Go ahead and ask!
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Posted by Hart Holland on July 24, 2006 at 07:36 AM
Q: Morning, We have caught a light brown spider with a few small black dots on the body. Also has a bright orange hour glass on the belly. We're thinking it's a black widow but it's not black. Any ideas. I do have pictures.
A: Spiders come in such an array of patterns and colors that it's difficult to identify them. I don't know of a Black Widow that's not black nor other spiders with an hourglass on their abdomen so I'm a bit puzzled by your animal. Please send a photo and I'll see what I can find out.
Posted by Hart Holland on July 24, 2006 at 07:36 AM
Q: Morning, We have caught a light brown spider with a few small black dots on the body. Also has a bright orange hour glass on the belly. We're thinking it's a black widow but it's not black. Any ideas. I do have pictures.
A: Thanks for the photos - very helpful. As I looked at your spider, I could see it sure looked to me like a Black Widow, but without the black coloration. Well, I did some research and found that there is indeed a Brown Widow (Latrodectus geometricus) that looks like yours that has been introduced into Florida and it occurred to me that S.C. is not far away!
I would treat this spider with real care. You might even want to freeze it and provide it for someone to check out (local wildlife authorities/college professor/conservation dept). According to my info, the Brown Widow is much less likely to bite and if it does, injects less venom than the Black Widow so this is not a life-threatening animal but special care needs to be taken. Maybe a population of these spiders has moved into your area and if so, people shouldn't be frightened but certainly need to know what it looks like. My best to you and thanks for your question.
Posted by Jean Minger on June 21, 2006 at 09:45 PM
Q: We found a very large spider (1" long, 1/2" wide, 1/2" high), very dark brown with hundreds of babies on her back. We have never seen a spider this large in this area. Is it an import? The many spiders looked like moss on her back. What kind of spider is it?
A: I can't be certain, but it sounds like you have a Wolf Spider. There are many different kinds of wolf spiders in North America (over 100 species) so I can't even begin to know which one you have but it is probably an American species. Wolf Spiders don't make webs but instead run down their prey, like wolves. These spiders are often quite large, hairy and make you think of tarantulas. The females carry an eggs sac on their spinnerets and on hatching, the babies crawl onto their mother's abdomen. Hope this helps and thanks for asking.
Posted by Jamie Kelly on June 19, 2006 at 11:44 PM
Q: clearing out the wood behind my home we found a black shiny spider with red spots on the back of it...never looked at the belly was a bit agressive so we left it be...the abdomen part of it was about the size of a marble. I live in cecil county maryland and was wondering if you could be of any help identifying it....sorry I have no pic.
A: There are so many spiders with so many different colors and patterns that it is especially difficult to ID them without a photo or very detailed description. The Black Widow in the U.S. usually has an hourglass under the abdomen but this can and does vary a bit with some having red color on the top too. Black Widow females (males are much smaller) are about .5-.6" long and usually spins its web under objects.
An excellent book on spiders is the Golden Guide to Spiders and Their Kin and I think you can purchase this book from the Peterson Institute if you want. This is a paperback book full of good illustrations that can help you ID some of the more common spiders. Thanks for asking and I hope this helps a wee bit.
Posted by Lauri Randall on June 06, 2006 at 04:21 PM
Q: We found a fairly large spider in our pool skimmer. It was about the size of a quarter. It was brown and had what appeared to be eggs on its back. There were also several tiny baby spiders crawling around on it. We live in Austin, Texas and are concerned that this may have been a brown recluse. Does this sound like a brown recluse to you?
A: Sounds to me that you had one of the wolf spiders. These are "tarantula-looking" spiders that don't make a web to catch their prey but run it down much as a wolf might. There are lots of different kinds of wolf spiders and many of the species are found in wet areas (along streams and ponds) so having one near your pool makes sense. Furthermore, I think your observation about the eggs/babies on its back fits with this group of spiders. The female wolf spider does make an egg sac to hold her eggs and once the babies hatch, they'll cling to their mother for quite some time.
This does NOT sound like a Brown Recluse so don't worry. In fact, if you see this one or others in your pool area, you'll do well to leave it alone so it can help keep the insect population down. Thanks for asking and I hope this makes you feel more comfortable at your pool.
Posted by Renee Hoffman on May 31, 2006 at 06:17 PM
Q: I was wondering if you would be able to tell me what kind of spider is black and fuzzy looking wih a white triangle shape and two white lines on is body, I have also seen these spiders with yellow and orange on their backs.
A: Spiders come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, patterns, and colors so it's extremely difficult to make an identification without a detailed description or photo. But, from what you've shared, it sounds as though your spiders do not spin a web but crawl about on the ground or walls? If this is the case, you've probably got jumping spiders. These are especially good little buggers that pounce on their prey but don't make a web. If you can check out the "Golden Guide to Spiders and Their Kin" there are all kinds of good illustrations that will help you get close to your spider's ID. This paperback book is inexpensive and really helpful. Thanks for asking and I hope I've helped a wee bit.
Posted by Tina Ivey on April 19, 2006 at 07:10 PM
Q: I keep finding black spiders with a small orange dot on its back. Could you tell me what type of spider this is.
Thanks.
A: There are many different kinds of spiders that come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and colors, so I'd need a photo and a bit more information to help you out with an ID. If you're concerned that it may be a Black Widow Spider, it would have a red hourglass on the underside of its abdomen (last body part) and would be living in a web. Only two of our North American spiders are dangerous so I don't think you have anything to fear.
If you can get an inexpensive paperback book called, A Golden Guide to Spiders and Their Kin, you'll find lots and lots of good illustrations that should help you narrow down the possibilities. Sorry I can't nail this for you but with the book, you should be much closer to figuring this out.
Posted by Jennifer Ritter on April 17, 2006 at 11:08 AM
Q: There is a very small grey spider, 1/2", with a bright orange dot on the underside of its abdomen...any relation to the widow or is it a look-alike?
A: Although you do have Black Widow spiders in North Carolina, from the size you've shared, it would be an adult and should be coal black, not gray. There are so many different spiders and they come in so many colors that it is really difficult to know what you might have. I am quite sure you don't have a Black Widow however. Yes, it could be related but the Black Widow and Brown Recluse are the only two in North America, north of Mexico, that are considered dangerous. Consider your "boarder" a friend and one who will help keep insect numbers down - shouldn't be a problem. Thanks for asking and I hope this helps.
Posted by Jessica Power on January 24, 2006 at 04:46 PM
Q: I found a small black spider with a reddish orange -hourglass or heart shaped spot on its back. It is not on the underside like the black widow, it is on its back. It also looks like it has 2 small dots of the same color near the end of it's abdomen on the back side also. Just wondering if it is poisonous and what it is.
thank you,
Jessica
A: Keep in mind that all spiders have venom although only two species, Black Widow and Brown Recluse, are reasonably dangerous. Living in New Foundland you needn't worry about either of these spiders - they don't live that far north. There are lots of different kinds of spiders with all kinds of different patterns and colors. May I suggest you get an inexpensive book on spiders to help you ID this one and future finds? The Golden Nature Guide series puts out a very nice beginners guide to spiders that is quite helpful - I use it myself. You might even be able to get one at a library. Hope this helps and thanks for asking.
Posted by Kathy Chater on December 05, 2005 at 11:14 PM
Q: I found a spider in my garden and I think it may be an Orb Weaver? It looks like the photos except the body is bright orange instead of yellow and I think it only has six eyes. Can you help?
A: There are a lot of different kinds of orb-weavers (several hundred in North America) so don't think that yours must look exactly like one in a book. You may want to google "orb-weaver spiders" and see if you come up with a photo of "your" spider. The orb-weavers make a "typical" spider web and are often found in peoples' yards and gardens. The eyes on a spider are not always the same size and not always easy to see so I'll bet there really are 8 eyes on yours.
At this time of year the orb-weavers usually lay their eggs and then die so your spider may not have long to live. If it's warm enough in Georgia right now, you may want to toss a live insect into your spider's web and see if it is interested. Thanks for your question and I hope this helps.
Posted by jen berztiss on October 15, 2005 at 06:27 PM
Q: on your careful footwork there's a picture of a spider...and we found that same spider in the backyard....but on here it says its a garden spider...but its not...what spider is this?
A: The term "garden spider" is a rather general catch-all term used for many orb-weaving spiders and I'm sorry if this has confused things. The actual spider that is illustrated, if we want to be really accurate, is the Marbled Spider (Araneus marmoreus). Thanks for being so sharp-eyed on this!
Posted by Patricia Younger on October 05, 2005 at 07:36 PM
Q: I found a spider in a pool rest room where I work. It's black with an odd red marking on the belly, not an hourglass like a black widow, but a red devil like face with horns. I want to capture it and move it to a animal refuge nearby if it might pose a harm to anyone. I don't want to kill it.
A: It's good to see you're being so safety-minded for people yet have respect for even the little critters too. You're right in thinking this is not a Black Widow. Blaok Widows have a round abdomen and their red hourglass is quite distinct. Sounds to me that you've found one of the orb-weaving spiders that have these rather strange abdomens. These are sometimes quite impressive with various colors and designs and protrusions. I can't give you the exact species but it sounds as though it may be one of the Micrathena species - harmless. Spiders that find their way into a restroom often have especially good "hunting". When lights are on in the evening, all kinds of insects are attracted into these areas and provide more than enough food for the spiders.
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Thanks for your question.
Posted by Derek Ouellette on September 03, 2005 at 10:43 PM
Q: I found a spider on me and I was wondering if you could ID it? Thank You.
A: I really don't have enough information to make an identification for you but I may be able to point you in the right direction. Was your spider in a web or was it crawling around the ground or the chair you were sitting on? Sounds to me that your spider was NOT in a web - right? Two kinds that don't spin their own webs are the Jumping Spiders (these tend to be quite small) and the Wolf Spiders (these can be rather large and hairy). Female Wolf Spiders do carry around their eggs in a round silk ball so I'm wondering if this is what you saw. Take a look at this site (be sure to scroll down to see all of the photos) and see if one of these looks like "your" spider. www.uky.edu
Thanks for your question.
Posted by mandi stewart on August 01, 2005 at 07:12 PM
Q: We found a spider at my work that has the red hour glass on its belly like a black widow but it also has three red dots on the top of it. We found it in a well lit area with lots of dust. What could it be and is it dangerous? Thanks!
A: Female Black Widow Spiders have a fair amount of variation of color patterns on their abdomen so the red dots on top don't confirm but the red hourglass beneath is a pretty good sign that it is what you think. Female Black Widows usually stay with their webs and are found in a wide variety of places although usually beneath objects, not out in the open. Your spider isn't going to come looking for anyone so I'd make sure all know exactly where it is and then avoid that specific location. Actually, might be a good idea for people to check it out (make sure there is adult supervision for children) so they'll know if they ever see one elsewhere. Black Widow Spider bites are dangerous but if you use some common sense, you and the spider can co-exist. Thanks for asking.
Posted by Troy Steele on June 06, 2003 at 05:03 PM
Q: Why do spiders have symbols on their backs?
A: "Why" questions are really difficult to answer in biology so I think it would be better to ask, "how do the symbols on the backs of spiders, help them survive? What is their value to spiders?" Since many spiders do have these symbols or patterns on their bodies, I think it safe to assume there is some advantage to the spiders. The problem is, it's really difficult to find out what they might be.
Different kinds of spiders vary a great deal in their body markings and often the males have a different pattern than the females. The Black Widow spider comes to mind with its red, hour-glass design on its abdomen. It's interesting to note too that many of the different kinds that have these markings, have poor eyesight and rely more on a sense of touch to capture their food and find a mate so they probably don't use vision to identify others of their kind.
You've stumped me on this one - I can't find any information that discusses the value of the symbols on spiders. Maybe this is an area of study you could someday follow up as a biologist! Thanks for your question and I'm sorry I can't be of more help.