This is the
first spider I came across in the wild over here that scared the
life out of me, coming from a country that has nothing wild looking
and nothing that really you need to watch out for. So when I seen
this I was sure it was going to kill me, luckily none of them have
and I have even found one in my pocket along with the lint in the
corner.
The Spined
Micrathena is one of our most common spiders. If you've ever walked
through a spider web in the woods, it was very likely a
micrathena's web.
Usually, it
is only the female spider that is seen. She is about 1/2 inch long,
with a chunky abdomen that has ten spines on it. The abdomen varies
in color; usually it is whitish, yellow, or brownish-black. The
cephalothorax (front section) is much smaller than the abdomen, and
it is amber-colored. This spider's legs are glossy
black.
The male
Spined Micrathena is about half the size of the female. It has only
a couple of spines and a much flatter abdomen. Only females build
webs.
To trap
prey, the Spined Micrathena builds her web between shrubs or small
trees, three to seven feet off the ground. Insects that try to fly
in between the trees don't see the web and get stuck. First, the
micrathena weaves three main lines of web; then she builds her orb
(circular part of the web). The orb is six to eight inches across.
As soon as the sun goes down, she eats her web. When the sun comes
up, she builds it again. The silk for the web comes from the tip of
her abdomen. She weaves the silk with her hind legs.
Most of the
prey that get caught in the web are small flies, such as mosquitoes
and gnats. Small wasps, flying ants, and beetles also get caught.
The micrathena hangs out in the center of her web, with her head
pointing down. As soon as she feels the vibrations of prey trapped
in her web, she runs to bite it. These spiders are slow and clumsy.
Many insects escape before she can catch them. When she catches
one, she bites it first, then wraps it in silk.
Male
micrathenas do not build webs, but they do weave a "mating thread."
The male finds a female's web, and weaves his mating thread onto
her web. When he's ready, he quickly runs out and mates with her.
Males often do not survive the encounter.
The female
makes a tan sphere with silk and lay her eggs inside it. She lays
the sphere on plants near her web. Eggs are laid in
September.
Spined
Micrathenas have only one generation each year. Eggs overwinter in
their sac and hatch the next year. Young spiders become fully grown
by July and are ready to mate.
Predators of
micrathenas include the usual spider-eaters, such as birds, toads,
frogs, and lizards. Female micrathenas build an "escape line" into
their web. They also make a low-pitched buzzing sound when they are
disturbed. You can hear it if you're very close to the
web.
Spined
Micrathenas can be a nuisance to people when someone walks through
their web. It is usually this spider's web you end up pulling out
of your hair when you walk through the woods. Really, though, these
spiders are a big help to people. They trap lots of small pesky
insects, such as mosquitoes and gnats.
