Animal's Details

Scientific Name
Feather-legged spiders
Category
Arachnida
Created on Date
2024-09-26 15:16:09
Common Name
feather-legged spiders
Synonym(s)
feather-legged spiders
Family
Uloboridae
Status
Live
Description

Uloborus sp. is a genus of cribellate orb-weaving spiders belonging to the family Uloboridae. Found in a variety of regions across the world, including tropical and temperate zones, Uloborus spiders are unique in that they do not possess venom glands, unlike most other spiders. Instead, they rely on their silk to capture and subdue prey. The spiders typically measure between 3 to 7 mm, with females being larger than males. Their bodies are elongated, and they often have cryptic brown or grayish coloration, helping them blend into their surroundings such as twigs, branches, or dry vegetation.

 

A distinctive feature of Uloborus sp. is their production of cribellate silk, a type of non-sticky silk that is extremely fine and woolly in texture. They use this silk to weave highly intricate orb webs that effectively entangle small insects, such as flies and moths. Once an insect is ensnared, the spider wraps it tightly in silk, immobilizing it without venom.

 

Uloborus spiders are often found in gardens, forests, and shrublands, where they build their webs horizontally or at an angle, often in areas with low vegetation. Their behavior is generally passive, and they are non-aggressive toward humans. As effective insect hunters, they play a crucial role in managing pest populations in their ecosyste