How Baby Spiders Are Born
WouterBaby spiders are born from eggs. They can be very small. They grow rapidly. They become independent and search for a new home after a few weeks. A female spider lays two to four eggs. Some species of spiders may lay hundreds of eggs.
Some spiders lay eggs in an egg sac, which is usually distinctive in shape or color. Egg sacs can have multiple layers of wrapping. They also may include extra-tough silk or sticks. Many species have elaborate egg sacs. Some are even covered with soil or soil particles.
Spiderlings spend their first few weeks in a shared web. Once they are old enough to move on their own, they hunt for food. Mother spiders guide their young. Some mothers die while their babies feed on them.
When a spiderling grows to maturity, it begins to build its own web. It produces silk threads, which are used for travel. It also produces a dragline, which is a long, thin line that is attached to its tail. The silk is then swept by the wind. Some spiderlings undergo a delayed molt, which is when they stop growing and dry out. This is fatal. Those that survive will use their fangs to cut a hole in the egg sac, which enables them to exit.
Most spiderlings are killed by predators while they are defenseless. A mother spider will carry her baby for weeks before it is ready to feed on its own.
