More Facts You Might Not Know about Your Pet Spider
By: Rocky & Bullwinkle (our pet invertebrates)


1. The biggest spider in the world is the Goliath Bird
Eating Tarantula (Theraphosa leblondi) that literally eats
birds. They are found in North Eastern South America. They
are reportedly the size of a dinner plate.


2. Located in Borneo, the smallest spider is a Mygalomorph
Spider that is the size of a pinhead.


3. The spider silk of an orb weaver spider has the tensile
strength of steel! But because they produce so little of it
and they are territorial it is impractical to keep the
spiders and harvest the spider silk. It was once suggested
to make bullet proof vests out of this spider's silk.


4. The most venomous spiders in the United States are the
Black Widow and the Brown Recluse spiders. Although these
spiders are highly venomous and can bite through human skin
if threatened, there hasn't been a case of these spiders
causing death in two decades. Their bites can be very
painful and damaging, however.


5. The most venomous spider in Australia is actually the
Male Funnel-web Spider, which is unusual because it is
usually the female of the spider species that is more
venomous.


6. The hunting spiders that run down their prey rather than
spinning webs or laying in wait are very interesting. They
have developed many ways to catch their prey, from using
camouflage to blend into their environment to being able to
jump more than a yard in one jump. The hunting spider knows
what to do when it comes to getting a meal!


7. Some spiders can walk on water! There are actually
fifteen spider species that perform this feat. Among them is
the Fisher Spider (Dolomedes triton) which not only walks on
water but runs very fast on water after prey or other Fisher
Spiders threatening its territory.


8. Some spiders can fly! The Sheet Web Spider literally
makes a balloon of sorts out of some webbing that it spins
from its abdomen, the balloon then lifts it into the air to
soar along on the breezes.


9. Some spiders use pheremones on their webs to attract
bugs! The Bolas Spider drops a strand of sticky silk that is
impregnated with a substance similar to the pheremone that
moths use to attract mates. When a moth comes courting, the
Bolas swings its sticky lariat and captures its meal.


10. Some spiders hiss or click to appear more dangerous to
predators! The tarantula is famous for its threatening hiss
that can be heard by humans from yards away.


11. Most spiders will eat other spiders. How is that for
having your relatives for dinner?


12. Some humans actually eat spiders and some consider the
Tarantula a delicacy when roasted.


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