Apr 21
Common Bark Spider (Caerostris sexcuspidata)
Observed by razorspider, CC BY-NC
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Germany
seen from China
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from United Kingdom
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Germany
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from Netherlands
seen from Spain
seen from Yemen
seen from South Africa
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from Netherlands
seen from South Africa
Common Bark Spider (Caerostris sexcuspidata)
Observed by razorspider, CC BY-NC
Uncharismatic Fact of the Day
Who says spiders can't be romantic? Male Darwin's bark spiders know all the tricks to woo-ing females-- up to and including oral stimulation. In a single encounter, males may perform this activity up to a hundred times on their female partner. Scientists believe this behaviour may demonstrate his fitness as a mate, or that their saliva contains enzymes which may facilitate sperm deposition.
(Image: A male (top) and female (bottom) Darwin's bark spider (Caerostris darwini) by Biological Institute ZRC SAZU)