How Long Do Spiders Lay Eggs When They Die?
WouterWhen a female spider dies after laying eggs, her offspring will have to find their own shelter and food. Depending on the species, it may take a couple weeks or more for the young to disperse. Some will stay with their mother until they are able to make their own home. Others will flee before they become fully developed.
Some of the spiderlings stick to the body of the mother for protection. Some will leave to find their own food. They may also create their own nests. They must also avoid predators.
The female spider produces an egg sac, a silken ball that encloses multiple eggs. The shape of the egg sac is important. It is usually a round, white or off-white ball. These balls are sometimes buried in the soil or protected by leaves.
The number of eggs that a spider carries can be as few as four or as many as hundreds. Some spiders will carry the egg sac around in their mouths and carry it in their webs. Some will build the egg sac in burrows or along the sides of rocks. The size and color of the egg sac can vary. The Brown Recluse, for example, carries up to 300 eggs in one sac.
The amount of time a spider spends creating a web is a determining factor in how long it takes to create an egg sac. Often, it is more than one year, although some spider species have a two-year lifespan.
