My baby is expecting! :D

[jynxxxedangel]

My youngest Phidippus audax jumping spider, Taarna, has made an egg sac. There has been a wild mature male crawling about the house, recently. I suspect he may be responsible for her current condition. What I can't figure out, is how he could have gotten into her enclosure-- as there is nylon stretched over the opening (she's the smallest of my girls, and the breathing holes in the Kritter Keeper are quite large). These eggs may be infertile, but I'm not betting on it, as male spiders are very determined.

She's still hard at work, laying silk around the clutch.

Wish us luck!

[gothkytten (2)]

wow!

[bean]

Ok, spiders to totally freak me out, but, um, yay!

[Troy Spiral (13)]

Good luck!

Is that yellowish area a group of eggs / egg sac? Does a papa spider need to come by still or is that already taken care of? You mentioned that a male got into her cage but how the fertilization process works I'm not so sure. I'm guessing the females lay eggs, that need a male to come allong and inseminate them.

[jynxxxedangel]

The male spider, when sexually mature, will deposit one or two sticky spermataphores onto a surface, and then gather them up into the ends of his palps (those two leg-like appendages on either side of the fangs). This is why they often have the appearance of wearing "boxing gloves."

When he finds a receptive female, he will put his palp into her oviduct, and insert the sperm packet. If there is one already existing inside of her, he will scoop it out, and replace it with his own.

Female jumping spiders can also "reserve" the spermataphores inside the oviduct, until they want fertilisation to occur-- often, multiple broods. My largest spider, Arwen, used the same mating three times to produce fertile clutches of eggs!

..and yes, the yellow area she is sitting on is the egg clutch. Anyone who has bred spiders knows that yellow means "EGGS!!"

Edited April 28, 2009 by jynxxxedangel

[asphyxian_doll]

awwww! I really need to overcome my fear of spiders. I love them and respect them...and see them everywhere. ^__^ one of these days Jynxie I'd like to come visit you and meet your babies. I'd like to get closer to that species and embrace them much more. the wolf spiders around here put me on edge, but I hate that, I'd like to be able to gently catch one and set him/her outside, or find a way to nurture them and co-exist,...but I freeze up and take my eucalyptus and mist it to get them to scurry off. I can't even touch them :(

[gothkytten (2)]

The male spider, when sexually mature, will deposit one or two sticky spermataphores onto a surface, and then gather them up into the ends of his palps (those two leg-like appendages on either side of the fangs). This is why they often have the appearance of wearing "boxing gloves."

When he finds a receptive female, he will put his palp into her oviduct, and insert the sperm packet. If there is one already existing inside of her, he will scoop it out, and replace it with his own.

Female jumping spiders can also "reserve" the spermataphores inside the oviduct, until they want fertilisation to occur-- often, multiple broods. My largest spider, Arwen, used the same mating three times to produce fertile clutches of eggs!

..and yes, the yellow area she is sitting on is the egg clutch. Anyone who has bred spiders knows that yellow means "EGGS!!"

what happens when they hatch? do they fend for themselves? how many are in a sack? do you give them away or keep them? sorry im full of all these questions. i just never read up on this stuff. i find it very educational.

[Homicidalheathen]

aw cute!

spider is one of my totems

[jynxxxedangel]

what happens when they hatch? do they fend for themselves? how many are in a sack? do you give them away or keep them? sorry im full of all these questions. i just never read up on this stuff. i find it very educational.

The spiderlings usually hatch within about three weeks. I have counted as many as 500 in a single brood. Each measures approximately one-half millimetre (very tiny).

Once hatched, they go through their first moult (shedding the old skin, to grow larger) inside the brood ball, and don't begin to emerge until about a week or so later. I feed them flightless fruit flies (Drosophila hydei), as they are easier to manage than the winged variety. They will also cannibalise each other. This is nature's way of ensuring that only the strongest of the brood survive. The young spiders will keep close to the brood sac, returning to sleep there at night, until about a week and a half after their first emergence.

The tiny spiderlings are fun to observe. They are very active, learning all the motions that will make them into successful hunters and escape artists as adults. They remind me of kittens, the way they hop around, and interact with each other.

I usually sell them (depending upon interest on the arachnid forums I frequent), give them away, or release them into the garden, when they are in their third or fourth moult-- the reason being, most folks aren't keen on the idea of keeping a fruit fly colony. This particular species goes through anywhere between 10-12 moults, before becoming a full-grown, sexually mature spider. The females are usually at least three times larger than the males, and much more aggressive.

I hope this answers most of your questions.

Edited April 28, 2009 by jynxxxedangel

[asphyxian_doll]

The spiderlings usually hatch within about three weeks. I have counted as many as 500 in a single brood. Each measures approximately one-half millimetre (very tiny).

Once hatched, they go through their first moult (shedding the old skin, to grow larger) inside the brood ball, and don't begin to emerge until about a week or so later. I feed them flightless fruit flies (Drosophila hydei), as they are easier to manage than the winged variety. They will also cannibalise each other. This is nature's way of ensuring that only the strongest of the brood survive. The young spiders will keep close to the brood sac, returning to sleep there at night, until about a week and a half after their first emergence.

The tiny spiderlings are fun to observe. They are very active, learning all the motions that will make them into successful hunters and escape artists as adults. They remind me of kittens, the way they hop around, and interact with each other.

I usually sell them (depending upon interest on the arachnid forums I frequent), give them away, or release them into the garden, when they are in their third or fourth moult-- the reason being, most folks aren't keen on the idea of keeping a fruit fly colony. This particular species goes through anywhere between 10-12 moults, before becoming a full-grown, sexually mature spider. The females are usually at least three times larger than the males, and much more aggressive.

I hope this answers most of your questions.

I would really like to breed spiders someday.

Even though I have arachniphobia,...It doesn't stop me.

They have always played a very symbolically important role in my life.

[gothkytten (2)]

The spiderlings usually hatch within about three weeks. I have counted as many as 500 in a single brood. Each measures approximately one-half millimetre (very tiny).

Once hatched, they go through their first moult (shedding the old skin, to grow larger) inside the brood ball, and don't begin to emerge until about a week or so later. I feed them flightless fruit flies (Drosophila hydei), as they are easier to manage than the winged variety. They will also cannibalise each other. This is nature's way of ensuring that only the strongest of the brood survive. The young spiders will keep close to the brood sac, returning to sleep there at night, until about a week and a half after their first emergence.

The tiny spiderlings are fun to observe. They are very active, learning all the motions that will make them into successful hunters and escape artists as adults. They remind me of kittens, the way they hop around, and interact with each other.

I usually sell them (depending upon interest on the arachnid forums I frequent), give them away, or release them into the garden, when they are in their third or fourth moult-- the reason being, most folks aren't keen on the idea of keeping a fruit fly colony. This particular species goes through anywhere between 10-12 moults, before becoming a full-grown, sexually mature spider. The females are usually at least three times larger than the males, and much more aggressive.

I hope this answers most of your questions.

yes it did. and then some. sounds like they have a little bit of a personality ( playing with each other)

have you seen any of the spiders outside after you set them free? that would be cool. will they live in this kind of weather? were do this type spider come from?

[jynxxxedangel]

yes it did. and then some. sounds like they have a little bit of a personality ( playing with each other)

have you seen any of the spiders outside after you set them free? that would be cool. will they live in this kind of weather? were do this type spider come from?

Yes, I have seen them around, after I have released them. The females tend to be territorial, picking one place to hide, and hunting close to it, for their entire lifespans. The males will wander freely, finding chinks to sleep in at night. They are especially active, when searching for a female.

They become dormant during the cold months, only emerging from their hiding places on warm days (temperatures in the upper 40s, at the very least) to look for food.

These spiders are native to most of the United States, and quite common.

Edited April 28, 2009 by jynxxxedangel

[gothkytten (2)]

very cool! thank you so much for the info.

[jynxxxedangel]

Here's a pic of my middle spider, Azrhiaz. She is approximately 2 cm long, from eye crest to spinnerets. Her abdomen is about the size of a large blueberry. How very goth she is. So cute and fuzzy, with her little shoe button eyes.

Edited April 28, 2009 by jynxxxedangel

[gothkytten (2)]

i like the grey she has. how old to they live? lol here i go again.

lol goth spider. thats to cute!

Edited April 28, 2009 by gothkytten

[jynxxxedangel]

Well, my eldest female is about three years old. Most websites I have visited give the lifespan as two years, or less. Go figure. I must be doing something correctly.

[gothkytten (2)]

Well, my eldest female is about three years old. Most websites I have visited give the lifespan as two years, or less. Go figure. I must be doing something correctly.

they know there loved. keeps them going:)

[TygerLili]

I find this whole thread creepy and fascinating at the same time. It's like sex ed for spiders. I think most spiders are cool, and usually do what i can to set them free when I catch them in the house, but most insects creep me out to some degree.

Anyway, Jynxie, good luck to you and yours.

[Guest Megalicious]

YAY for grand-spiders!!!!

[prick]

Usually I prefer to be the dominant one but I love it when I get down there and the girl grabs my head and pushes it right into her "cash & prizes"

Congrats on your baby's babies jnxy!

[jynxxxedangel]

:rofl:

Laughing at your expense, dear..at the above quote in your post.

I'm assuming it was a gaff, but it reminded me of my husband's position, about two minutes after TWB dropped us off-- and at a random moment.

*picks self up off of floor*

#1: WERE YOU SPYING ON US?????????\

and

#2: Are you trying to get this spider sex ed thread moved to the S&S forum?????

Edited April 29, 2009 by jynxxxedangel

[prick]

:rofl:

Laughing at your expense, dear..at the above quote in your post.

I'm assuming it was a gaff, but it reminded me of my husband's position, about two minutes after TWB dropped us off-- and at a random moment.

*picks self up off of floor*

#1: WERE YOU SPYING ON US?????????\

and

#2: Are you trying to get this spider sex ed thread moved to the S&S forum?????

Wow I didnt even realize I did that. Must be a Fruedian slip. This would be a psychiatrists wet dream!

[dragonluv]

I as well don't like spiders. However, Congrats for the little ones !

[Enishi]

Congratulations on your spiderlings.

This makes me remember the time in first grade when I kept black widows in a jar and brought them in for show and tell one day. People looked at me like I had horns growing out of my head, lol.

[prick]

Congratulations on your spiderlings.

This makes me remember the time in first grade when I kept black widows in a jar and brought them in for show and tell one day. People looked at me like I had horns growing out of my head, lol.

What do you mean "like you had horns growing out of your head"? They are fully grown.