Aug 27, 2008

Wolfspidermum

No, that's not some sort of new woolly spider (perish the thought). That's yet another spidermum with her spiderlings. In this case, it's a wolf spider.

Danielle had a recent encounter with a wolf spidermum, and it wasn't a pleasant experience for anyone involved. She decided to share this image with us as a cathartic exercise.

Wolf spiders are unique in the spider world both for carrying around their eggsac wherever they go (even while hunting), and later for carrying around the spiderlings on their backs. That's dedication.

I can't find out exactly when the babies decide to leave their mother's back and strike out into the world on their own. I assume it's after they graduate from High School (though they're probably home schooled) and once they're gainfully employed.

Photo from The Herbs Place via Danielle

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh.....My.....GOSH. Thanks for the nightmares. I won't be back until I get some unsuspecting person to come to this website and tell me this is gone!

*runs away*

Anonymous said...

Is this where we get steel wool from? : P

Sherry at SofN

Anonymous said...

Blech. I just had a daymare looking at that thing.

I think they leave when you tap them and the babies explode off the mom's back ready to infest human brains....
or maybe I'm just crazy...

Jade said...

WOWIE! I've never seen that many babies on one spider before!! :D

For the record, they leave either just before or just after their first molt.

Katie said...

*Itchy, itchy, itchy*

Anonymous said...

Wow, that's incredible.

Anonymous said...

I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.
Those little babies freak the crap outta me. All their little squirmy legs. *shudder*
I gotta take a shower after seeing that.

Unknown said...

Wow. That gave me an intense, reflexive shudder. I'm still trying to make my face have a normal expression.

thanks!

Unknown said...

just.. nasty.. gives me the heebiejeebies. >.< blech~

Persnickety Ticker said...

So that was what I killed the other night...I just thought it was a Trojan Spider. Squish the big one and little ones exploded everywhere. Thanks for clearing that up!

Anonymous said...

i now have a permanent grimace. that's disgusting.