Spiders

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Spider infected by Cordyceps Fungus

 

 

[Bill W]

1 hour ago, sandrewn said:

 

 

Spider infected by Cordyceps Fungus

The cordyceps fungus infects spiders by taking over their nervous system, transforming the arachnid into a "zombie".  The fungus forces the infected spider to a specific location, usually on a plant or cave wall, where it then dies. After the spider's death, a mushroom-like structure sprouts from its body, releasing spores to start the infection cycle with new hosts. 

How it Works

1. Infection:

The fungus infects the spider, often through spores that penetrate the body. 

 

2. Control:

The fungus gradually takes over the spider's nervous system, controlling its movement and behavior. 

3. Behavior Manipulation:

The fungus manipulates the spider to leave its home and climb to a specific, often exposed, location where spores can be dispersed more effectively. 

 

4. Death:

The spider dies in this new, strategic position. 

 

5. Spore Dispersal:

After the spider's death, the fungal body emerges from its corpse, and the spores are released to infect other spiders or invertebrates. 

 

 

Key Characteristics

Zombie Fungus:

This parasitic relationship has earned it the nickname "zombie fungus" due to the mind-controlling nature of the fungus. 

 

Host Manipulation:

The fungus's goal is to ensure the survival and dispersal of its spores. 

 

Targeting Invertebrates:

Cordyceps fungi primarily infect invertebrates, including insects and spiders. 

 

Human Safety:

The cordyceps fungus that infects spiders and other invertebrates cannot infect humans. 

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[TalonRider]

Fortunately, the dog didn't go for the top of the fridge. 

[Bill W]

1 hour ago, TalonRider said:

Fortunately, the dog didn't go for the top of the fridge. 

Maybe there were more spiders around the back of the fridge. 

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[Bill W]

6 hours ago, sandrewn said:

 

 

Oh, I like the looks on the one on the top left - a zebra spider.  😜

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Platycryptus undatus [tan jumping spider] male

 

 

[Bill W]

Platycryptus undatus 

Tan jumping spiders can be identified by their mottled tan coloration, thin bodies and chevron patterning on their abdomens. The tan jumping spider's thin body allows them to hide themselves under the loosened bark of trees and in other tight places. The prominent chevron-like pattern on their abdomens serves to break up their visual profile and make them more difficult to distinguish on mottled surfaces.^[3][2]

Females of this species are between 10 and 13 mm in body length, and males range from 8.5 to 9.5 mm.^[2]

Tan jumping spiders, like many jumping spider species, prefer to hunt on vertical surfaces and can frequently be found on the trunks of trees or on the walls of buildings. These spiders are not inclined to bite, though they can deliver a defensive bite if they are pinched or squeezed.

Eggs are laid and hatch during the summer, and adults and other stages overwinter in their individual silken shelters. Although the shelters are built separately and keep the spiders out of direct contact with each other, Kaston reports that as many as fifty spiders may crowd their shelters for hibernation together, so tightly that they form a continuous blanket under the loose bark of a standing tree.^[4]

Distribution

Adult male

Platycryptus undatus can be found in North and Central America. The distribution of this species ranges from the Eastern States and adjacent Canada, to Texas and Wisconsin.^{[5][page needed]} This species is also found in northern Mexico.^{[citation needed]}

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[Bill W]

6 hours ago, sandrewn said:

 

 

Yikes!  Do it grow a new one or is that it for the sex? 

[Bill W]

10 minutes ago, Bill W said:

Yikes!  Do it grow a new one or is that it for the sex? 

Some male orb-weaver spiders castrate themselves by detaching their penis-like pedipalps after mating. A male spider has two sperm-transferring organs called pedipalps, and he often leaves one or both of them behind in the female's reproductive tract to serve as a "genital plug". 

The practice, sometimes called the "eunuch phenomenon," provides several advantages for the male and his offspring: 

• Continued insemination: In certain species, the detached pedipalp continues to transfer sperm into the female for an extended period, maximizing the male's paternity.
• Prevention of remarriage: The severed palp or parts of it can effectively block the female's reproductive opening, preventing her from mating again with rival males.
• Enhanced defense: Some "eunuch" males who survive the mating process become more agile and aggressive fighters without the weight of their pedipalps. This helps them fend off other males and defend the female to protect his investment.
• Increased mating success: In some cases, the male will sever his own pedipalp to end copulation with a cannibalistic female and escape being eaten. 

A high-risk mating strategy

This "gloves-off" strategy is not without peril. In many orb-weaver species, males risk being eaten by the much larger female during or after copulation. The detachable pedipalps, which are used only for mating, allow the male to invest completely in a single reproductive event, even if it means sacrificing his body. 

It is important to remember that not all orb-weaver species engage in this extreme behavior. Mating strategies and outcomes vary greatly across the many types of spiders. 

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[Bill W]

6 hours ago, sandrewn said:

 

That's really not humane, because most house spiders can't survive outside.  They either wither away or become fodder for something else.  

[Ron]

Hmm, what’s that ball of string doing on the floor?

Wait a minute… you’re no ball of string? You’re not fooling me!

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(Repeat warning)

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