Baby spiders of different sizes?

naturegirl · #1 (**permalink**) 08-10-2011, 10:22 PM

How can baby spiders be very different in their size when they all came from the same egg sac at the same time?

As I have said recently, I have about 7 baby Steatoda nobilis from a nest in my kitchen. There may be more but I cannot see where they are yet.

I see them every day and some seem to be much larger than their sibblings.

I can only imagine that the larger ones may eat more which makes them grow quicker, am I right?

I make my own wine from local fruit etc. so there are always fruit flies around which make suitable prey for tiny spiderlings I think?

As they become larger I shall move them on to 'sheltered accomodation' elsewhere as I do not want to take the risk of being bitten, however innocently that may be.

Naturegirl

No.9 Spider · #2 (**permalink**) 08-10-2011, 11:12 PM

Weaker ones will be eaten by their siblings in most cases as well!

naturegirl · #3 (**permalink**) 10-10-2011, 12:05 AM

Oooooh! that is nasty!!!!!

I'm wondering where the larger one went last night..............It was above the smaller one last night?

The smaller ones are still there today and I would hate to see their sibbling eat them....

Poor little things.....

I have no doubt where their parents went then............ I saw their mum last spring............

Naturegirl