Feather Legged Spider:
Family: Uloboridae.
Average body length: 5-8 mm.
Identification: Carapace has dense layer of cream to white hair. Leg no 1 is much longer than the other legs. Can be seen clearly in the background picture.
Habitat: Common in the country and frequently found in and around houses.
Customs: Active at night and during the day. Web based. Sits in the middle of the web with hind legs pulled up and long strong front legs together. Spin around its prey and will then pour its own digestive enzymes over the prey to kill it. Quite unique to spiders.
Venom: Has no venom.
Web: Horizontal or inclined wheel web. Center usually strengthened with additional silk.
Food: Insects.
Reproduction: Female lays eggs in a bunch that she covers with silk. She guards the eggs until they hatch.
References:
- Internet web sites.
- SASOL field guide to Spiders and Scorpions of South Africa.
- Field Guide to Spiders of South Africa by Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman.
The cache:
Magnetic container. Please replace this cache in the exact location found. BYOP.
FTF:Spytrix. Well done! Only a geocacher is that crazy to get up so early!