Do Spiders Need a Mate to Have Babies?
WouterIf you’re familiar with spiders, you might wonder whether they require a mate to have babies. While the answer is yes, the process varies among different species and isn’t always easy to decipher.
While most of us think of a mate as a female’s uterus, in reality, a spider’s reproductive system doesn’t involve a uterus. Instead, the eggs that make up a spider’s offspring are laid in a web. The eggs will take some time to mature and grow into a spiderling.
Several species of spiders are capable of producing hundreds or even thousands of eggs in one go. The Argiope spider, for example, can lay up to nine thousand eggs at once.
The average life cycle of a spider in the wild is about three years. But there are some that live longer. They may live for many years in captivity.
During their breeding season, they are out on a quest to find a suitable mate. In some cases, they may have to defend themselves against other males in the area. They will also need to avoid being eaten by predators.
During their mating ritual, the male will smear his secretion over the epigynum. This will allow him to deposit sperm in the female’s genitals. It will fertilize her eggs. This is a great way to ensure that all her offspring are produced.
Some males are so successful at producing sperm that they will be able to mate several times throughout their lives. Those that aren’t so fortunate will die before their time. Those that are successful will guard their mates jealously. They will prevent other males from impregnating the female.
