Brown recluse spider (male) showing six eyed pattern. Female black widow with egg sacs.įigure 17. Female wolf spider with spiderlings on her back. As with almost all spiders, jumping spiders use silk to lay down a trail, cover its eggs, and construct temporary shelters. They are capable of jumping several body lengths, possess large eyes, and the most common species are brightly colored. They stalk and pounce on their prey rather than use silk to snare it. Funnel web spiders differ from the brown recluse in that they have a darker brown color with black markings on the abdomen, lack the characteristic “violin” marking on the cephalothorax, have four pairs of eyes instead of three, have striped legs, and are considerably faster. A central retreat (the base of the “funnel’) is usually used by the spider which then moves rapidly onto the web when prey enter onto it.įunnel web spiders are harmless but are often mistaken for the brown recluse, a spider whose venom is of medical importance, that does not naturally occur in Colorado. They produce dense mats of silk in areas such as shrubs, thick grass, or corners of buildings. Male spiders are often more commonly found in homes as they tend to wander during the mating season in search of females.Ĭommon Colorado Spiders Funnel weaver spiders (Agelenidae)įunnel web spiders are the most common spiders found in homes, particularly during late summer and early fall. Males are identified by the presence of an enlarged pair of palps (front leg-like appendages ) which may appear somewhat like miniature boxing gloves or a fifth pair of legs. However, widows and some wolf spiders can live up to a few years, and tarantulas can survive a decade or more.Īdult male spiders are smaller than females, sometimes dramatically smaller. Most spiders in Colorado have a life cycle that spans one year. Also, spiders are able to rapidly recolonize areas even if they have temporarily been eliminated. Because spiders have a great ability to disperse, in addition to other factors that affect their survival, the number of spiders found in an area from one season to another naturally varies. Ballooning spiderlings can be carried long distances. This method of dispersal is known as ballooning.
Many climb to the top of a nearby object, produce long filaments of silk (known as gossamer), and are carried by the wind. Young spiders, known as spiderlings, emerge from the eggsac and disperse. Females of some species (wolf spiders, cellar spiders, nurseryweb spiders) may carry the eggsac until the eggs hatch. The eggsac of many webspinning species are found in and around the webs. Most cover the eggs with a sheet of tough silk that can attach to almost any surface. Life Cycleįemales lay eggs in clusters of up to several dozen. These spiders physically overpower their prey and then use venom to immobilize them. Others are active hunters that ambush or capture prey. Some spiders capture prey by using silk and venom. The pattern of eye arrangement is characteristic for the different spider families. On the cephalothorax are usually six to eight eyes, often arranged in two rows. The body regions include the cephalothorax (head and legs) and the abdomen. Spiders differ from insects in that they have eight legs (rather than six) and only two body regions (instead of three).
There are a few spiders whose bite requires medical attention.
Others object to spiders because of their habit of building webs in and around the home. Many people fear spiders because of stories or myths. However, their presence is a cause of concern to some people. Oftentimes they are the most important biological control of insect pests in gardens, fields, forests, and homes. Spiders are beneficial arthropods, that survive by feeding on insects. Common spiders found indoors include funnel web spiders, cobweb spiders, cellar spiders, and sac spiders.
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