Do Spiders Take Care of Their Babies?
WouterThe question of whether spiders take care of their babies is a difficult one to answer. There are many different species of spiders, and their behavior varies greatly. Some will feed their offspring, while others will leave them to fend for themselves.
Wolf spiders are common in the open meadows and high rise mountains of North America. The wolf spider’s unique parental care involves carrying over 100 hatchlings on its back for weeks.
Some species feed their young, while others lay special eggs for spiderlings. These eggs are covered with a silk pad and sometimes a few strands of silk, and are often wrapped in several layers.
Some species lay eggs that can be distinguished by their shape and color. Some of the more elaborate egg sacs can contain soil, sticks, and extra tough silk. Other spiders wrap their eggs partially, leaving a few spots of the silk on the outside.
Spiders will lay two to a thousand eggs at a time. They are generally white, though they may be different in texture or color. Some mothers may regurgitate food to feed their young, while others feed them by catching bugs.
Female spiders protect their eggs by wrapping them in more silk, making it a ‘blanket’, or by hanging them in a secure location. Once the eggs have hatched, the mother will continue to feed the young with milk-like fluid until they are ready to forage for food. Some spiders carry their egg sacs in their jaws, and others have spinnerets that attach them to their rear end.
