How Do Spiders Release Eggs When Squashed?
WouterThere are many species of spiders. Some species live underground while others are found in the trees and shrubs. Most spiders build elaborate sacs of thick silk.
Some species hide their eggs in burrows or foliage. Some lay a web to attract the opposite sex.
A spider’s fangs (chelicerae) can inject venom into a prey. Venom can paralyze the target and kill it. They are also known to expel digestive juice onto or into the dead insect.
In some species, the female produces several egg sacs. Each of these sacs is different from the other. Some are tied together with a few strands of silk, while others are a single egg sack. Some female spiders even guard their egg sacs.
A spider’s silk is a protein-rich fiber that is stronger than steel and is useful in multiple ways. For instance, some spiders wrap their meal in silk before transporting it. Some spiders also liquify the meal to extract its nutrients.
A spider’s venom can be fatal to humans. Some species have a spitting behavior, where they shoot a zigzag stream of sticky material over prey. The sticky material is produced by modified venom glands located on the cephalothorax.
A spider’s silk is also flexible. This helps them capture their prey. It also makes it easier for them to move.
A female spider may produce as many as four thousand eggs in her lifetime. Some male spiders deposit sperm on the pedipalps of the female. The pedipalp is then inserted into the female’s abdomen. The males then fertilize the eggs with a small amount of fluid.
