Do Spiders Grow Overnight?
WouterThe answer to the question, “Do spiders grow overnight?” is no. In fact, most spiders reach adulthood within a few months. However, some males are born fully formed, while females are larger and take longer to mature. Depending on the species, this might have implications for body size.
A study on the effects of light treatments on the development of spiders revealed that spiders raised under light at night are smaller at maturity than those reared under a dark environment. This is due to the effect of the ALAN gene, which suppresses nocturnal melatonin.
A previous study on cabbage moths suggested that ALAN may not have an impact on growth rate. The question of whether the physiological effects of ALAN on this species are similar to those of other invertebrate taxa remains to be tested.
As a result, some of the studies on this species have not been replicated. This is unfortunate, because earlier maturation can have consequences for body size. The same holds true for spiderlings, who are born with a fragile egg sack.
Using handfed juveniles, the researchers determined how much food the spiders needed. The amount was based on observations of wild Eriophora. The juveniles were fed a small cricket at least one size larger than their own body size every week.
The treatment was also given to the adults. Similarly, the length of tibia on the front left leg at maturity was measured. The black line represents the overall relationship between tibial length and age at maturity.
