| Photo Information |
Copyright: Morag Hamilton (lebois)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 74 W: 3 N: 82]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif) (232) |
| Genre: Animals |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2006-05-15 |
| Categories: Spiders |
| Exposure: f/2.8, 30 seconds |
| More Photo Info: [view] |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2006-08-28 9:07 |
| Viewed: 1175 |
| Points: 8 |
|
| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
I came across this very small spider whilst searching for interesting beetles!
Sorry I can't identify it exactly but whilst researching I have found out loads of fabulous spider info, some of which is below for your interest!
Spiders are predatory invertebrate animals with two body segments, eight legs, no chewing mouth parts and no wings. They are classified in the order Araneae, one of several orders within the larger class of arachnids, a group which also contains scorpions, whip scorpions, mites, ticks, and Opiliones (harvestmen). The study of spiders is known as arachnology.
All spiders produce silk, a thin, strong protein strand extruded by the spider from spinnerets most commonly found on the end of the abdomen. Many species use it to trap insects in webs, although there are many species that hunt freely. Silk can be used to aid in climbing, form smooth walls for burrows, build egg sacs, wrap prey, and temporarily hold sperm, among other applications.
All but about 150 species of spiders (in the families Uloboridae and Holarchaeidae, and the suborder Mesothelae) can inject venom to protect themselves or to kill and liquefy prey. Only up to 200 species, however, have bites that can pose health problems to humans. Many larger species' bites may be painful, but will not produce lasting health concerns.
Spiders have a great range of variation and lifestyle, although all are predatory.
While spiders are generalist predators, in actuality their different methods of prey capture often determine the type of prey taken. Thus web-building spiders rarely capture caterpillars, and crab spiders that ambush prey in flowers capture more bees, butterflies and some flies than other insects. Groups of families that tend to take certain types of prey because of their prey capture methods are often called guilds. A few spiders are more specialized in their prey capture. Dysdera captures and eats sowbugs, pillbugs and beetles, while pirate spiders eat only other spiders. Bolas spiders in the family Araneidae use sex pheromone analogs to capture only the males of certain moth species. Despite their generally broad prey ranges, spiders are one of the most important links in the regulation of the populations of insects. Every day on a meadow they devour over 10 g/m² of insects and other arthropods.
More spider info can be found at www.wikipedia.org
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