The female Nursery Web spider (Pisaurina mira) generally builds a thin web to house its young. This spider has a large and hairy body. Nursery Web spiders are often confused with wolf spiders. Unlike most spiders, Nursery Web spiders generally have multiple color patterns making them difficult to identify. However, with a little learning and training, you can easily identify Nursery Web spiders.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Observing the Spider's Physique
Step 1. Pay attention to the large spider
The Nursery Web spider is one of the largest spider species. Because of its large body size, this spider is often considered one of the tarantula species.
The body of this spider is generally 0.5-2.5 cm long. However, this spider can stretch its legs up to 7.5 cm long
Step 2. Pay attention to the color
Although Nursery Web spiders vary in color patterns, they generally have a brown, gray, or light yellow body, with dark brown stripes or other markings.
If you look closely at the spider's legs, you can see the black spikes protruding from its legs
Step 3. Observe the spider's eyes
The Nursery Web spider has 8 eyeballs. The spider's eyes are in two horizontal rows. The eyes in the lower row are almost straight. The eyes that are in the top row are curved to form the letter "u".
- The eyes in the upper ranks are larger than the lower ones.
- When viewed up close, observing the spider's eyes is a good way to distinguish Nursery Web spiders from wolf spiders, which have a different arrangement of eyes. The wolf spider has 3 rows of eyes.
Step 4. Notice the shape of the spider's body
Nursery Web spiders have slender bodies. The spider's belly is wide in the middle and tapered at the back.
Male Nursery Web spiders are generally very slender. In contrast, female spiders that are fertilizing eggs have a large belly
Method 2 of 3: Paying Attention to Spider Habits and Behavior
Step 1. Pay attention to the egg bag
One of the easiest ways to identify a female Nursery Web spider is to look for spiders that have egg pouches. Nursery Web spiders carry eggs in their fangs until they are ready to hatch.
- Egg bags look like little white golf balls. Egg bags generally contain hundreds of eggs.
- The spider will carry the egg bag under its body.
Step 2. Pay attention to the cobwebs that are specifically designed for cobwebs
When the eggs are about to hatch, the female Nursery Web spider will make a special web for her young. These webs are generally found in tall grass or bushes, with egg pouches placed behind the leaves.
- After making the web, the mother spider will guard it until the eggs hatch.
- Nursery Web spiders will protect their young until they are ready to fend for themselves.
Step 3. Watch the spider's hunting behavior
Unlike most spiders, Nursery Web spiders do not make webs for hunting. In contrast, when hunting, these spiders hide and wait for their prey (usually insects). Once the prey approaches, the spider will run and catch it quickly.
- Instead of trapping prey using a web, this spider will use its power to subdue the prey.
- These spiders hunt during the day and night.
Step 4. Pay attention to the spider's posture
When resting, Nursery Web spiders have a posture that resembles the letter "X", while holding the front and hind legs together.
Method 3 of 3: Recognizing the Origin and Habitat of Spiders
Step 1. Identify the Nursery Web spider's home area
These spiders can generally be found in North America. Nursery Web spiders can easily be found in the eastern United States and southeastern Canada.
Some people argue about how western spiders can be found. Some people think that this spider can be found in several states of the West Coast, United States. However, some people disagree with this statement. In conclusion, these spiders are rarely found in the western United States
Step 2. Find the Nursery Web spider in its natural habitat
You can find these spiders in several different habitats. These spiders are often found near water. Nursery Web spiders generally live in the following places:
- Forest
- Agricultural land or plantation
- Grasslands and vacant land
- old farm
- Rocky areas along rivers or other bodies of water
Step 3. Find this spider in the right season
Nursery Web spiders mature in late spring and reproduce in summer. These spiders are often found in early May to late July.
- Young spiders will hide behind tree bark or rocks in autumn and winter. Spiders will come out and become adults in the spring.
- Like most spiders, this spider's life cycle is about one year.
Tips
Nursery Web spiders are quite closely related to wolf spiders and angler spiders. Angling spiders are similar to Nursery Web spiders, but fishing spiders generally prey on animals that live in water and can be found near water. Learning how to tell the difference between these three types of spiders can help you identify Nursery Web spiders
Warning
- Nursery Web spiders are not aggressive towards humans. However, the mother spider protects her eggs fiercely. Therefore, if you disturb him, the spider may bite.
- Due to their large size, the Nursery Web spider's bite is quite large and painful. However, the bite of this spider is not dangerous.
