Common Spiders Found in Georgia (Part III)

If you have not read the first two parts of this article series, you might as well want to check on those articles first before you proceed reading this article. Just like the first two article, this article is also about some of the spiders commonly found in Georgia. In the previous articles, we only discussed about the etymology, physical description, habitat, behaviour and venom of the spiders. In this article, we will add another key point of discussion: the web that the spiders make. In the first two parts of this series of articles about the spiders found in Georgia, four types or spiders have already been covered, these are: the crab spiders, cellar spiders, fishing spiders and crevice spiders. In this article, we will talk about the Funnel-web spider and the orb-weaving spider.

1. Funnel-web spider

a. Etymology

Funnel-web spiders got their name from the shape of the webs that they weave. They weave funnel-shaped traps catch their prey. Funnel-web spiders are not only endemic to Georgia, they are also found all over the world. In fact, about 700 known funnel-web spider species are believed to be located in many types of grassland in many parts of the world.

b. Physical Description

Funnel-web spiders have bodies that are relatively oversized. Their bodies are oval-shaped and long with legs that are both narrow and long. Their legs are also hairy. They are able weave funnel-like webs because of the spinnerets located on their abdomens. Moreover, a Funnel-web spider can be identified through the white stripes that decorate the inlays of their black or brown backs.

c. Habitat

These spiders like cool and wet environments. Thus they prefer to live under stones or in holes, even in crevices. Funnel-web spiders are mostly active at night time for the entire year. Furthermore, these spiders are most prevalent in grasslands.

d. Web

Funnel-spiders do not place glue droplets into their webs, thus they are bale to weave funnel-like webs that are not sticky. These webs are intricately woven to have layers of webs that are attached to vegetation. Although it is not sticky, the layers of webs already make it impossible for the prey to break free from the funnel-like trap. The funnel-like web also serves as a lounge for the spider. Somewhere along the side of the funnel is a small opening where the spider can slide through and enter the funnel without difficultly. The spider can feed on its victim inside the funnel-like web and enjoy fresh food. Because of their excellent design, funnel-like webs can remain moist even during the hot days. So, spiders can actually find retreat inside their funnel-like webs when the weather outside becomes too hot.

e. Behaviour

Female Funnel-web spiders are able to lay 100 eggs at a time. All these eggs are securely placed inside an egg sac for protection. After about three weeks, the eggs hatch and the spiderlings will remain close to the egg sac until they become mature enough find their own way. They reach maturity in about 2 years and after that, female funnel-web spiders are able to live for another 10 years while the males can live for another 8.

f. Venom

This spider is one of the rarest spiders that can cause complications to humans. Their bites can transfer their venom which may cause severe redness and swelling of the skin tissues. However, there are anti-venoms which can be used to counter these effects. Nevertheless, just like most spiders, these spiders do not bite on purpose and only does so when offended or threatened.

2. Orb-weaving Spiders

a. Etymology

Garden Orb-weaving spiders got their name from their habits in web-making and from their tendency to prefer living in gardens, fences and other places outdoors. They are scientifically known as the Argiope aurantia. This Latin name comes from the world used to refer to orange trees. Garden orb-weaving spiders are normally orange or yellow colored.

b. Physical Description

The most common garden orb-spider in Georgia is yellow colored. Their bodies are black with yellow patterns on their back. Their legs have two hues: tan and black. Just like all other spiders, female orb-weaving spiders are much larger than their male counterparts. Female orb-weaving spiders measures from 14 to 25 millimetres while the male ones are as small as 5 to 6 millimetres.

c. Habitat

Garden orb-spiders can live in different places but they are most fond of gardens and fields. They also like to hang around garden fences and along roadways where there are vegetation growing. These spiders are not only common in Georgia; these spiders are also common in Southern Canada and in all the other 48 states in the USA.

d. Web

Orb-weavers can build impressively large webs that are exceptional in strength. Their large disk-like webs can catch a lot of insects at night through the sticky circles in the spirals throughout the web. They also weave a unique zigzag pattern the runs down in the middle of their web. For this reason, orb-weaving spiders have also been known as the "writing spiders".

e. Behaviour

Most orb-weaving spiders are active at day time but there are some species which also feed during night time. They do not like being disturbed and whenever they are, they would vibrate their large webs to scare away the disturbance. According to experts, of all the members of the animal kingdom, only the orb-weaving spiders die while they mate. They have two reproductive organs used for mating. The male orb-weaving spider needs to use its first palp (sexual organ) first, before its actual reproductive organ can be used. Upon using the first organ, an irreversible seizure will come upon the male spider, killing it in the process. AS this happens, its other organ will begin to swell and blocks the sexual organ of the female, thus preventing her from mating with other males. Because the male organ has to serve as a "block" over the female's sexual organ, the male spider has to die and the female eats the male in order to take it off her back. After the mating, the female spider can go about its life as if nothing has just happened.

f. Venom

The orb-weaving spider has venom and in rare cases, it will bite humans causing redness and irritation on the skin surface where the bite is located.