Scytodes thoracica facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scytodes thoracica |
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Scientific classification | |
| Synonyms | |
|
The Scytodes thoracica is a special kind of spitting spider. It gets its name because it can spit a sticky, venomous silk to catch its food! These spiders are quite small, usually between 3 and 6 millimeters long. Their body shape is a bit unusual. The top part of their body, called the carapace, slopes upwards. But their back part, the abdomen, slopes downwards.
Most spiders have eight eyes, but the spitting spider is different. It only has six eyes! You can find these spiders in many places around the world. They live in Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia like China and Japan. They have also been found in North America, Argentina, India, Australia, and New Zealand.
What makes this spider so unique is that it has silk glands in its cephalothorax (the front part of its body). Most spiders only have silk glands in their abdomen. But the spitting spider also connects these special silk glands to its venom glands. This means it can make silk that is venomous! Other arachnids, like pseudoscorpions, might also have silk glands in their cephalothorax.
Contents
How the Spitting Spider Hunts
Unlike pseudoscorpions, which use their silk to build nests, the spitting spider uses its silk to catch food. It is a very slow hunter, which you might guess by looking at its long, delicate legs. When night comes and some insects are less active, the Scytodes thoracica begins its hunt.
The spider moves very carefully towards its prey. When it is about 10 millimeters away, it stops. It then gently measures the distance to its prey using one of its front legs. It does this without disturbing the insect. Then, in a super-fast blink of an eye (about 1/600 of a second!), it squeezes its body. It spits two silk threads in a zigzag pattern over its victim. The prey is instantly stuck and cannot move. If the prey is bigger, the spider will spit several times. Scientists think the spider uses special long hairs on its legs to help it find its prey.
Where the Spitting Spider Lives
The Scytodes thoracica is a nocturnal spider, meaning it is active at night. It likes warm places. You can often find these spiders inside houses, especially in warmer areas. In Southern Europe, they might even live under stones outside homes. However, in Northern Europe, they are usually only found indoors. They live all over the world.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
When a mother spitting spider lays her eggs, she carries them under her belly. She holds them safely in a net made of silk. After the tiny spiderlings hatch, the mother spider builds a special nursery web for them. This web gives the baby spiders a safe place to grow.
See also
In Spanish: Arañas escupidoras para niños
