How far does the spider jump, why does it see well?

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The horse spider is called a miracle of nature, a special type of arthropod. Among other representatives of this species of insects, he stands out for his ability to jump and is the owner of excellent vision. Many researchers claim that he even has intelligence. Spider horse Is a name that unites a whole group of insects. There are more than six hundred species of them. Representatives of this species are quite common in various parts of the world. Most of them prefer warm countries with tropical climates.

Origin of the species and description

Photo: Horse spider

Jumping spiders are representatives of arachnids arthropods, allocated to the order of spiders, the family of jumping spiders. Spiders of this species are representatives of flora and fauna that are found almost everywhere. One of the subspecies was discovered in 1975 even at the summit of Everest, at an altitude of more than 6500 meters above sea level.

The history of the existence of spiders is more than 200 million years old. The exact period of the appearance of spiders is unknown due to the fact that finds with the remains of ancient spiders are extremely rare, since their body decomposes rather quickly. Scientists managed to find several important finds in amber. Some other body parts of ancient arachnids were found in solidified resin. They looked like small insects, the body size of which did not exceed 0.5 centimeters.

Video: Horse spider

The cephalothorax and abdomen had practically no separation. Ancient spiders had a tail that was designed to weave webs. Instead of cobwebs, they produced a kind of dense, sticky thread. Spiders used them to wrap a cocoon, line their den, or for other purposes. The ancient ancestors of modern spiders practically did not have glands that stimulate a poisonous secret.

There is a version that ancient spiders appeared in Gondwana. Then they spread very rapidly over almost the entire earth. The subsequent ice ages reduced the habitat of spiders, and with them many species of ancient arthropods became extinct. Spiders tended to evolve rather quickly, mutate and divide into species.

Danger to humans

Are domestic spiders dangerous for humans if they have settled in the house? Small species that got into the house from the street are not dangerous for humans, since they do not emit poison. But if you do not take action, they will begin to braid the corners of the rooms with cobwebs and actively reproduce. Arthropods rarely attack humans, but, sensing danger, they can sting. Despite the fact that they are not poisonous, a secret is secreted from the mouth when bitten, which can cause an allergic reaction. In areas with hot climates, black tramps are especially dangerous. It is enough to treat the bitten place with an antiseptic.

Appearance and features

Photo: Black spider steed

The horse spider is distinguished by rather sharp eyesight, which is required for a successful hunt. The organs of vision are represented by eyes in the amount of eight pieces. They are arranged in three lines. The four largest eyes are located on the first line.

Interesting fact: The front organs of vision can rotate up and down, as well as in different directions. With the help of such moving eyes, spiders distinguish shapes, silhouettes, and also colors.

The second row of visual organs is represented by two small eyes.The third row consists of two larger eyes located on either side of the cephalic region. This structure of the visual system allows you to assess the situation at full 360 degrees. This way, you can easily avoid meeting the enemy. Eyesight helps for a successful hunt. The peculiarities of the visual system also lie in the fact that spiders are able to see each organ separately and add everything into a single picture. The retina of the eyes also has an extraordinary structure, which allows you to reliably determine the distance to the desired object, object.

The respiratory system also has distinctive features. It even has peculiar lungs and trachea. The size of the horse's body does not exceed the size of a five-kopeck coin. The average body length is 5-7 millimeters. Sexual dimorphism is pronounced - females have a larger body than males. The cephalothorax and abdomen are separated by a thin groove. Different types of horses have a varied appearance and color, depending on the habitat. Some species may look like scorpions, ants, or beetles. The head section of the body is much higher, it is raised up above the abdomen.

Now you know whether the spider is poisonous or not. Let's see where he lives.

Top 25 Adorable Spiders That Are Not As Scary As You Think

Few people like spiders. These little creatures are often referred to as "disgusting", "vile" or "creepy", but in fact they absolutely do not deserve such a bad reputation. Most spiders are completely harmless to humans. Moreover, many of them are beneficial to humans, because they destroy pests in our homes and gardens. If we still haven't managed to convince you to stop hating these tiny creatures, then the twenty-five adorable spiders, which we will tell you about below, will convince you that even spiders can be cute, or at least entertaining. 25. Golden jumping spider

Found in Southeast Asia, this species of jumping spider is known for its long belly, long first pair of legs, and unique coloration. Males usually reach only about 0.76 centimeters in length, females are slightly larger. 24. Bird dung crab spider

This spider is notable for its unique camouflage method. Its body is covered with growths and warts, which make it look like a piece of fresh bird droppings. The spider enhances the imitation of bird droppings by pulling its legs closer to the body and lying motionless on a leaf for many hours. 23. Spiny orb weaver

This spider gets its name from the prominent spines on its abdomen. These spiders, reaching over 2.5 centimeters in diameter (when measured from thorn to thorn), are generally harmless to humans. 22. Smiling spider

The body length of this spider is only 0.5 centimeters. It is notable for the fact that on its yellow body we can clearly distinguish a pattern that resembles a smiling emoticon. The smiling spider is endemic to Oahu, Molokai, Maui and the island of Hawaii, where it lives in tropical forests at an altitude of 304 - 1981 meters. 21. Diving bell spider

Best known as the water spider, this spider is the only spider currently known to spend its entire life underwater. Like other spiders, it breathes air, which it draws into a bladder held by hairs on its abdomen and legs. Males of this species are about 30 percent larger than females, which is very unusual for spiders. 20. Himalayan jumping spider

The Himalayan jumping spider is a tiny spider that lives high in the Himalayas. These spiders have been found at altitudes exceeding 6705 meters above sea level.Its only food source at this extreme altitude is the occasional wind-blown insect on the mountain slopes. 19. Arrowhead spider

This spider is a brightly colored arachnid with a leg span of only 2.5 centimeters. These tiny creatures, completely harmless to humans, can be found in spring, summer and autumn. They hide in low bushes at a height of about 60 to 90 centimeters above the ground in thickets, wetlands, gardens and grassy marshes. 18. Argiope Brunnich or Wasp spider

Like all orb-web spiders, this spider is not poisonous. Wasp spiders weave their webs between the grass at a height of up to 30 centimeters. Adult females are much larger than males. 17. Therafosa Blonda or Goliath bird eating spider The Goliath bird eating spider is the second largest spider (after the giant jaeger spider) in terms of its leg span, however, judging by its body weight, it is the largest in the world. Despite its name, the spider usually does not eat birds; it feeds on insects. It is poisonous, but its venom is relatively harmless and its effect is comparable to that of a wasp sting. 16. Green jumping spider This species, found in Queensland, New Guinea, New South Wales, Northern Territory and Western Australia, is one of the largest spiders. horses. The males are strikingly brightly colored and adorned with long white "whiskers". 15. Spider-web spider golden (Writing spider) This species, which is usually found in most countries of Central America and regions of the Antilles (from Mexico to Panama), is distinguished by bright, rich colors of the abdomen. Females are three to four times larger than males. Their leg span can reach over 12 centimeters. 14. Ladybug mimic spider These spiders are believed to mimic ladybugs because ladybugs are not tasty for birds and other predators and predators usually avoid them. Despite its adorable appearance, this little creature actually belongs to a group that includes tarantulas and black widows. 13. Red-backed jumping spider The red-backed jumping spider, found in relatively dry environments such as coastal dunes or oak woodlands in western North America, is one of the largest and most common jumping spiders. This species builds prominent tubular silk nests on the ground under rocks and pieces of wood, and occasionally on vines. 12. Trapdoor spider Mason spiders are notable for their unique hunting technique. These medium-sized spiders build burrows with a trapdoor-like door, which they usually make from earth, vegetation and silk, and then wait for their prey, leaning half out of the burrow. 11. Jumping spider species Hyllus Diardi (Heavy jumping spider) Like other jumping spiders, this species does not build cobwebs. Instead, he hunts on the move, attaching a silk thread to some kind of support before "bungee jumping" onto a suitable prey. The body length of this spider reaches 1.27 centimeters. 10. Peacock spider This species of spider, whose habitat is limited to certain areas of Australia, is one of the most colorful and vibrant. Males, colored in bright shades of red, blue and black, have a hatch-like process on their abdomen with white hairs, which they can pull down. They use it to attract females during the mating season. 9. Ogre-faced spider These spiders, which live almost all over the world in the tropics, got their name from the imaginary similarity of their appearance with the appearance of the mythological creature, the ogre. Spiders make a web, which they hang between their front legs, and when prey approaches, they stretch a web that becomes two or three times its original size and throw it over the prey. 8. Hersiliid spider (Tree stump spider) This species of spider that lives in South America, is known for its unusual shaped abdomen, which looks like a growing branch. This feature is probably used either as a hunting method or as a shelter from predators. 7.Ant-mimic jumping spider Ant-mimicking spiders are mainly found in the tropics from Africa to Australia, and some species also inhabit the New World. Their color varies from black to yellow, depending on what kind of ants they imitate. One of the African spider species mimics one species of ants in an immature state and a completely different species in adulthood. 6. Long-horned orb-weaver The long-horned orb-weaver are three-clawed builders of flat webs with a sticky silk spiral for catching prey. As a rule, in the evening, the spider eats the old web, rests for about an hour, and then spins a new web in the same place. 5. Australian garden orb weaver These spiders, which can be found throughout the coastal regions of the eastern states of Australia, are notable for their ability to change color with each molt to better match the background they rest on during the day. 4. Wide - jawed viciria This spider lives in garden foliage and in the wastelands of Singapore and Indonesia. Both sexes measure approximately 0.76 to 1.27 centimeters in length. Viciria is a colorful member of the jumping spider family. 3. Sequined spider This spider, also known as the Australian stained glass spider, is found in all Australian states. These spiders are among the smallest species. Males are approximately 0.3 centimeters long and females are 0.4 centimeters long. 2. Eight-spotted crab spider This type of spider, discovered in Singapore in 1924, is one of the most colorful. Its body is approximately 2.5 centimeters long and is also one of the largest side walker spider species. 1. Royal jumping spider (Regal jumping spider) The royal jumping spider is the largest representative of the jumping spider in North America. The body length of the male is 1.27 centimeters, and the female is 1.52 centimeters. Males and females are easy to distinguish. Males are always black with a pattern of white spots and stripes. Females often have a similar pattern. However, they vary in color and range in color from shades of gray to bright orange.

Where does the horse spider live?

Photo: Horse spider in Russia

Spiders live almost everywhere. They can spread in vegetation, walls, soil, trees, shrubs, in secluded corners of various buildings, etc. The habitat depends on the species. Horse spiders can live in countries with a tropical climate, feel good and comfortable in deserts, semi-deserts, or even in the mountains. Preference is given to regions with a warm climate, they love sunlight.

Geographic regions of habitat of the pac horse:

• Queensland;
• New Guinea;
• North America;
• N.S.W;
• Africa;
• Australia.

The lifestyle of the horse spider and its habitat are very different among representatives of various subspecies of this species. One of them tends to weave a web and spend most of their time on it, others manage to build silk nests, which they equip in various secluded corners, and still others can simply live peacefully on the surface of the earth, or on any type of vegetation. Surprisingly, spiders are completely unpretentious in choosing living conditions. They can be easily found even high in the mountains, or on rocky terrain.

Varieties

There are about 600 genera and up to 6 thousand species of different jumping spiders in the world. There are ant, Himalayan, green, gold, imitating scorpions, as well as a jumping spider with almost transparent chitinous membranes. They differ in size, appearance, habitat.

Elegant gold

This species is common in Asia, in its southeastern part. The spider has a bright golden color of the body and cephalothorax. The abdomen itself is elongated, the anterior pair of legs is long.Females are traditionally larger than males, the length of the latter is about 4 millimeters.

Himalayan

Skakunets, named by the name of the area, was first discovered in it. Tiny (up to 5 millimeters female, male - a millimeter shorter) spiders live in the area adjacent to the mountains, including the Himalayas themselves (at an altitude of more than 6 kilometers). Spider chitin is colored in dark brown tones, and in females the shade is deeper. Known since the 20s of the twentieth century.

It is assumed that a similar species may be distributed in India. The diet of spiders is formed by flies and springtails. There is no particular difference in structure between the "ordinary" horse and the high-mountain one, this is confirmed by the research of scientists.

Green jumping spider

Grass-colored spiders belong to the natives of the Pacific islands and archipelagos. They are often found in Australia, Queensland and New South Wales. Moreover, Western Australian specimens are considered the largest there. They also live in New Guinea. The difference between a male spider and a female is the presence of segments of whitish "wool" on the body.

Redback

This species is native to the North American continent, where it lives in oak groves, coastal dunes. Loves dry spaces, is distinguished by the characteristic color of chitinous plates on the back. The favorite places of the spider's settlement are under stones, logs, in the vineyards. Creates twisted silk thread nests.

Hyllus diardi

These cute spiders are among the largest in their kind, their length is more than 1 centimeter. Like other horses, giants do not bother weaving a traditional web. Instead, they hook the end of the web to the nearest branch, support, and courageously throw themselves down to meet the dangers.

Ant jumping spider

An uninformed person can easily confuse an ant race with a representative of the corresponding genus of insects. Such mimicry is essential for survival in the jungle, where the aggressive reputation of weaving ants allows the spiders to defend themselves against their enemies. In this species of spiders, males are larger than females: 12 millimeters versus 7. The habitat includes southeast Asia - Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and India. They are also found in Africa, on the Australian continent. The color is dark, not transparent: from black tones to yellowish.

What does a horse spider eat?

Photo: Red spider horse

A well-developed visual system allows spiders to get food for themselves. When a potential victim appears, the spider instantly turns in her direction. The horses not only evaluate their prey, but also determine the distance that separates them as accurately as possible. After that, the mount makes an instant jump if the victim is within its reach. In this case, the front pair of limbs is used to grip and fix the victim. Chelicerae arthropods pierce the chitinous protective layer of insects and inject poison inside. It not only immobilizes and paralyzes the victim, but also partially digests the internal organs of the caught insect, turning them into a single continuous liquid substance. Horses drink this substance with pleasure, leaving only a chitinous shell.

What serves as a food base for a horse spider:

• spiders that are inferior in size and dexterity;
• flies;
• bugs;
• mosquitoes;
• caterpillars.

Spiders can also catch their potential food with the help of a trapping net woven by them. They scatter their webs on tree branches, blades of grass, bush branches. Spiders have a special limb structure. They have small bristles and small marigolds that allow you to move on any surface, including flat, smooth glass.

How to get rid of

There are many ways you can get rid of spiders. The simplest is cleanliness and food destruction:

1. First, all small insects are exterminated - flies, cockroaches and bedbugs.
2. All cobwebs are removed with a broom or vacuum cleaner. If a vacuum cleaner was used for cleaning, then the bag is immediately taken out into the street and cleaned, otherwise the spider will come out and begin to weave a new web.

   
   Cleaning the cobweb and searching the apartment for the presence of spider clutches will help get rid of arthropods

3. A large number of arthropods means that there are clutches of eggs somewhere. Most often they are located in closed places, for example, on the back walls of furniture. All surfaces on which spiders moved are cleaned with household chemicals or paint. Since they do not tolerate strong odors, this will help get rid of them.
4. Arthropods will become smaller and disappear altogether if you place bottles with essential oils of eucalyptus, mint or vinegar in the corners. They also cannot stand the smell of citrus and chestnut.
5. Special chemical fungicides will help with a large congestion of spiders. Of the substances, it is worth choosing those that include pyrethroids.

Regular house cleaning and constant cleanliness are good prevention against arthropods. Mosquito nets on the windows and a grill on the ventilation hood will prevent them from appearing. The room is unsanitary if there are too many spiders in it.

Features of character and lifestyle

Photo: Horse spider

Jumping spiders are considered exclusively daytime arthropods, since it is in the daytime that they tend to be most active and hunt. They love sunlight and warmth. Often these spiders tend to bask in open, sunny areas. These spiders are not afraid of people at all, they can settle in the immediate vicinity of them. Seeing a person, the horse is in no hurry to hide, or seek shelter. He watches him with interest. Often this particular type of arthropod is called orderlies. This is due to the fact that appearing in new, previously unpopulated regions, spiders rid the area of ​​harmful insects.

Not only phenomenal vision helps these spiders to get their food, but also another special function of the body - the hydraulic system. This is the ability of the body to change the level of pressure in the limbs, due to which the size and length of the limb itself can vary. This enables arthropods to jump at different lengths. Spiders often make jumps of such lengths, which are 15-20 times the size of their bodies. However, for belay, the jumpers fix a strong thread where they want to jump from.

By the end of the day, spiders are looking for a secluded spot in which they wind their webs. Such places can be found in the cracks of the walls, under the bark of trees, under pebbles, etc. If the weather outside turns bad, there is no sun, it is cold and it is raining, spiders hide in their shelters for a long period of time. In the morning, in sunny weather, they leave their hiding places. After the spiders warm up well in the sun, they go in search of food.

Interesting fact: Scientists consider this type of spider to be brave insects, as they flee only in extremely rare cases. When trying to escape from the enemy in this way, the horse quickly runs away, constantly turning in his direction. Spiders spend the cold season hiding in their shelters.

Chemical preparations for arthropods - which ones to choose?

Considering how long spiders live (usually no more than a year), one might think that it is pointless to fight them. Nevertheless, one must remember about the ability of arthropods to actively reproduce. The new generation of spiders will replace the old one so quickly that it will be almost impossible to achieve cleanliness in the house without cobwebs and dry bodies of their victims without special means.

The most effective chemicals are:

"Butox 50" is a simple and affordable product, easy to use. Apply it after carefully studying the instructions on the package.To achieve the result, it is enough to spray the surfaces where spiders are often found, first preventing the flow of clean air through the windows and doors. After the end of the action of the agent, the room is ventilated.

The drug "Nero" enjoys well-deserved trust among specialists. Just as in the previous case, it is necessary to study the instructions for using the tool

In places where food, children's toys, utensils are stored, the product is used with extreme caution, protecting vulnerable things and products with film

An alternative to aerosols often with a pungent odor will be tablets, they are also traps. Produced in dry form, they lure spiders, after which they are poisoned with poison. The method is simple and effective, but far from humane.

Social structure and reproduction

Photo: A pair of spider horses

Males differ from females not only in size, but also in color, in particular, in the color of the front pair of limbs on which the stripes are located. Each subspecies is characterized by individual characteristics of the mating season. However, all representatives of jumping spiders have one thing in common - the mesmerizing dance of a male. Such a dance allows you to attract the attention of the female you like. During such a dance, the male raises his limbs up and taps his chest with them in a certain rhythm. If several males claim the attention of one female, the one who has longer pedipalps takes precedence. If females have not reached puberty, males tend to expect this moment.

Male individuals weave a kind of web, to which they attach drops of semen. Then he lowers the pedipalps into the semen and only then transfers the semen into the body of the female. Before laying eggs, the female chooses a reliable shelter and lines it with cobwebs. This can be the space under stones, tree bark, in wall cracks, etc. After a secluded place is found and prepared, the female lays eggs and carefully guards them until the offspring is born.

After birth, the young do not need a mother, since they immediately have the skills of hunting. The female is removed. After a few molts, the offspring that is born reaches sexual maturity. The average life span of a spider in natural conditions is about a year.

Folk omens

There are many signs and superstitions associated with spiders. Therefore, before killing them, many people wonder whether it is worth doing it or not. The signs read:

1. Success and prosperity will come in the near future.
2. If an arthropod descends on a web, then you can expect guests or an unexpected letter.

   
   There are many beliefs about the appearance of spiders in the house, to believe in them or not, everyone's choice

3. If he moves on the floor or runs towards the table - to the move.
4. Has fallen on the head or hand - monetary profit is expected.
5. A cobweb over the bed - to diseases and problems in the family.

It is believed that killing a spider will cause misfortune and misfortune. But planting them in the house, overgrown with cobwebs, is also not an option. In order not to kill arthropods, it is enough to catch them and throw them out into the street.

Natural enemies of steed spiders

Photo: Horse spider in nature

Spiders have quite a few enemies in their natural habitat. It is in order to save lives that many spiders disguise themselves externally as other insects - ants or bugs.

The danger to spiders is posed by birds that eat these small arthropods. The spider-trap bird is especially interested in them. It is also worth noting that it is these spiders that lizards or frogs, as well as insects that are larger in size, are happy to hunt. Spiders tend to eat each other if there are no other objects nearby that can become prey.This is not only about the female, who, after mating, can eat the male. Often, adult, sexually mature spiders attack young animals.

Very often, horse spiders fall prey to wasps wasps. They are parasitic insects that lay eggs on the surface or inside the body of spiders. After some time, larvae appear from the eggs, which slowly eat the arthropod from the inside. If there are too many larvae, they provoke the death of the spider.

Significance in the ecosystem

Racehorse spiders belong to garden orderlies. They are beneficial to gardeners, as they destroy pests, protect fruit trees, bushes with berries or beds from the attack of wood-eating beetles, elephant beetles, and also from large cabbage.

Some gardeners specially plant horse spiders in their summer cottages. This eliminates the need for pesticides or other harmful chemicals.

This arthropod is distinguished by high intellectual abilities, so some consider it as a pet. In captivity, the bouncy hopper lives up to 3 years.

It brings considerable benefit, destroying aphids in flowerpots. They do not move around the dwelling, but live on the flowerpot that the owner chose for them.

Patu digua

A surprisingly tiny spider closes our selection patu digua... Scientists have found that the size of the male is only 0.43 mm. - without a magnifying glass and not see. The spider belongs to the family of symphytognaths. Distributed in West Africa on the Ivory Coast.

It is unimaginable, but with this size, the spider has a well-developed nervous system, which occupies 80% of the body. In addition to the nervous system, patu digua also has a developed brain, which occupies 25% of the body.

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