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Spider question

Fanta
Junior Virtual Ranger
Joined: Thu Jun 05, 2008 2:00 pm
Posts: 206
Location: My heart is truly in the bush

Fri May 28, 2010 9:23 am

Hi all,

I got a question for that has both me and brother stumped. So far either I can't work Google or I'm just blind to find the answer. :wall:

My question is this what are the spiders that live in the webs of other spiders known as?

I know of small parasides living on some webs but not of other spiders. :hmz:

I got this question from a friend and now I'm curious to find out the answer as well. Any ideas?

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Re: Spider question

DuQues
Honorary Virtual Ranger
Joined: Fri Jan 14, 2005 5:42 pm
Posts: 18634
Location: Red sand, why do I keep thinking of red sand?

Fri May 28, 2010 10:09 am

You don't mean communal spiders?

Re: Spider question

Fanta
Junior Virtual Ranger
Joined: Thu Jun 05, 2008 2:00 pm
Posts: 206
Location: My heart is truly in the bush

Fri May 28, 2010 10:27 am

Perhaps it can be but do all communal spiders live off the webs from other spiders or do they make their own? I know some species of communal spiders do spin their own webs/nests.

Re: Spider question

Imberbe
Senior Virtual Ranger
Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2005 12:28 am
Posts: 14340
Location: Pretoria, RSA

Fri May 28, 2010 11:09 am

Communal spiders build their own web. The difference is that it is not an open web such as other spiders. They rather build a messy cocoon type of structure, in which they hide. This can become huge and is often seen in trees, bushes and even on fences. The structure can contain tens and hundreds of spiders. They do not share the web of other spiders.

You find parasitic spiders on the webs of other spiders. They do not feed on the spider itself, but rather share the prey the host caught (clepto-parasites). They tend to be much smaller than the host spider. You will often find small "dew drop" spiders on the webs of golden orb webbed spiders as an example. This is not to be confused with the male spiders of the orb species, who also stay on the web and are also much smaller than the female.

Re: Spider question

Fanta
Junior Virtual Ranger
Joined: Thu Jun 05, 2008 2:00 pm
Posts: 206
Location: My heart is truly in the bush

Fri May 28, 2010 11:37 am

Thank you Imberbe, I've learnt something once again :wink:

Re: Spider question

Imberbe
Senior Virtual Ranger
Joined: Wed Aug 31, 2005 12:28 am
Posts: 14340
Location: Pretoria, RSA

Fri May 28, 2010 12:11 pm

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