Why Do Spiders Make Holes in the Ground?
WouterSpiders are arachnids, arthropods. They are a diverse group of species that can be found in a variety of different environments. These include indoor and outdoor living.
Some spiders are sit-and-wait predators, while others launch surprise attacks on unsuspecting prey. Most of the spiders in the genus Geolycosa are obligate burrowers, which means they live in their burrows. During the construction phase of their burrows, these spiders extract about half of the material they need for their homes.
Other types of spiders build pods and sacs inside of walls and chimneys. They may also create holes for shelter during the winter, when temperatures drop. Some species of wolf spiders, however, only make holes in the ground. They do not spin webs to catch their prey, but rather, create burrows to protect themselves from insects.
One such spider, the trapdoor spider, is a member of the family Ctenizidae. It has marginal teeth on its chelicerae, or its fangs. This helps the spider to trap its prey. When threatened, the spider rears up on its hind legs. The spider then propels itself upward to grab its prey.
In order to construct a burrow, a spider needs a loose, aerated soil. It must also be well drained. The sand and loam the spider uses in its burrows is typically only 1.5 cm deep.
The female Geolycosa missouriensis I recently discovered, for example, was only able to construct one burrow. Its fecundity is limited by the excavation costs, and her clutch size is just 156 eggs.
