How Are Young Spiders Called?
WouterWhen you’re a baby, you’re called an ant, hawk, or spider. Some animals, such as frogs and bees, feed their young. For other species, such as spiders and turtles, the young are carried by their mothers until they are ready to disperse.
The smallest spiders are known as spiderlings. They are newly hatched spiders. They live in egg sacs on the abdomens of their mothers for several weeks. They are fed by their mothers until they are ready to molt. When the molt occurs, the spider sheds its skin.
Some spiderlings may survive for many years. The jumping spider is an example. It lives for up to three years. Its milk-like substance is used to sustain the young until they are mature.
A jumping spider mother feeds her young for longer than some mammals. They also carry their babies on their backs for a couple of weeks.
Some female spiders die while caring for their babies. Other spiders lay eggs and care for their young for only a short period. Some are weak at the time their eggs hatch.
Depending on the species, spiderlings may remain on their mother’s abdomen for days or months. Some spider species feed their young through regurgitation. Others give their offspring captured prey. Some web builders release their spiderlings into the air by ballooning.
A female jumping spider may carry her eggs in a silk cocoon. The eggs are protected from predators until they are hatched. A nest may contain up to nine egg sac parcels at a time. These egg sacs may be unique in shape or color.
