Meta menardi, the European cave spider, is a long-jawed orb-weaving spider (family Tetragnathidae).[1] It is also known as the orbweaving cave spider and the cave orbweaver.
They have a natural range extending from Scandinavia to North Africa and from Europe to Korea; there are also transplanted populations as far apart as Japan and Madagascar.
The adult spiders are photophobic and live in places free from light, frequently in caves and tunnels, though they can sometimes be seen outside of caves and mines as they will emerge around dusk to hunt, often using a single silk lasso line and swinging down upon their prey. They are often found in areas that are frequented by bats. The spiders are most often observed in railway tunnels and mines since these are more likely to be visited by humans. The young spiders are, after several instars (and in contrast to the adults), strongly attracted to light[2]—probably an evolutionaryadaptation which ensures the spread of the species to new areas (see Life cycle for further details).
Morphologyedit
They are shiny satin black to reddish brown in colour, often having a different-coloured rear body which varies from black, brown or even olive green and are one of the largest spiders found in the United Kingdom, adults reaching roughly 5 cm legspan and 15 mm body length. However, the giant house spider, cardinal spider and the raft spider are larger. It is widespread and locally abundant, although rarely noticed due to its habits. They are neither endangered nor protected[3] in the UK.
Meta menardi closely resembles Meta bourneti, which sports a fainter mark on its abdomen and no rings on its legs.[4]
The ecology of the two species is very similar. On the other hand, the two species seems to exhibit different tolerance to the microclimatic variations within the cave, which emerged as the main factors determining the differentiation of their niche.[5]
The European cave spider is not dangerous to humans and although (in common with nearly all spiders) they have venom, its effect on large mammals is negligible. They are unlikely to bite if carefully handled but if sufficiently provoked they are capable of inflicting an unpleasant "nip". They are non-aggressive and generally slow moving and are regarded (by arachnophiles) as "gentle giants".
Life cycleedit
After mating, females produce a drop-shaped egg sac (cocoon).
Egg sacs are tear-shaped white pendants (sometimes with a slightly yellow centre) usually hanging from the roof of the habitat by a silk thread approximately 20 mm long. Egg sacs are usually laid in the vicinity of the cave entrance, where the air flow velocity ranges between 0.3 and 0.6 m/s.
The cocoon (2–3 cm in radius) contains an average of 200/300 eggs and is laid near the cave entrance at the end of the summer. After hatching, the spiderlings remain in the cocoon until the first molt, feeding on the yolk. They leave the cocoon in spring, move towards the cave entrance and disperse via ballooning outside the cave.[5][7]
Media mistakesedit
A media frenzy was caused when British Telecom engineers working in the grounds of Windsor Castle discovered a colony living in conduits and manholes. These were incorrectly described as swarms of aggressive spiders, up to 9 cm in size, which a leading entomologist believed were venomous. The BBC reported that it "may be a new species or a type of spider previously thought to have been extinct for thousands of years."[8] The initial incident was widely reported but when the species was properly identified the matter received little publicity.
^HUBERT, Michel (1979). Les Araignées — Généralités — Araignées de France et des pays limitrophes. Paris, France: Société nouvelle des éditions Boubée. p. 158. ISBN978-2-85004-020-7.
^ abMammola, Stefano; Isaia, Marco (2014). "Niche differentiation in Meta Bourneti and M. menardi (Araneae, Tetragnathidae) with notes on the life history". International Journal of Speleology. 43 (3): 343–353. doi:10.5038/1827-806x.43.3.11. hdl:2318/148030.
^Peter Smithers, Journal of Arachnology, August 2005
^Chiavazzo, Eliodoro; Isaia, Marco; Mammola, Stefano; Lepore, Emiliano; Ventola, Luigi; Asinari, Pietro; Pugno, Nicola Maria (2015-01-05). "Cave spiders choose optimal environmental factors with respect to the generated entropy when laying their cocoon". Scientific Reports. 5: 7611. Bibcode:2015NatSR...5E7611C. doi:10.1038/srep07611. PMC5154591. PMID 25556697.
^"Venomous spiders nest near Queen's home". BBC News. 19 June 2001. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
Further readingedit
Smithers, Peter (2005). "The diet of the cave spider Meta Menardi" (PDF). Journal of Arachnology. 33 (2): 243–246. doi:10.1636/ct-05-2.1. S2CID 73719797. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
External linksedit
Pictures of Meta menardi at Nick's Spiders
Photos of Meta menardi living in Norway
January 01, 1970
meta, menardi, european, cave, spider, long, jawed, weaving, spider, family, tetragnathidae, also, known, orbweaving, cave, spider, cave, orbweaver, european, cave, spider, scientific, classification, domain, eukaryota, kingdom, animalia, phylum, arthropoda, s. Meta menardi the European cave spider is a long jawed orb weaving spider family Tetragnathidae 1 It is also known as the orbweaving cave spider and the cave orbweaver European cave spider Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Subphylum Chelicerata Class Arachnida Order Araneae Infraorder Araneomorphae Family Tetragnathidae Genus Meta Species M menardi Binomial name Meta menardi Latreille 1804 Contents 1 Habitat 2 Morphology 3 Life cycle 4 Media mistakes 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksHabitat editThey have a natural range extending from Scandinavia to North Africa and from Europe to Korea there are also transplanted populations as far apart as Japan and Madagascar The adult spiders are photophobic and live in places free from light frequently in caves and tunnels though they can sometimes be seen outside of caves and mines as they will emerge around dusk to hunt often using a single silk lasso line and swinging down upon their prey They are often found in areas that are frequented by bats The spiders are most often observed in railway tunnels and mines since these are more likely to be visited by humans The young spiders are after several instars and in contrast to the adults strongly attracted to light 2 probably an evolutionary adaptation which ensures the spread of the species to new areas see Life cycle for further details nbsp Meta menardi Morphology editThey are shiny satin black to reddish brown in colour often having a different coloured rear body which varies from black brown or even olive green and are one of the largest spiders found in the United Kingdom adults reaching roughly 5 cm legspan and 15 mm body length However the giant house spider cardinal spider and the raft spider are larger It is widespread and locally abundant although rarely noticed due to its habits They are neither endangered nor protected 3 in the UK Meta menardi closely resembles Meta bourneti which sports a fainter mark on its abdomen and no rings on its legs 4 The ecology of the two species is very similar On the other hand the two species seems to exhibit different tolerance to the microclimatic variations within the cave which emerged as the main factors determining the differentiation of their niche 5 Cave spiders feed on smaller invertebrates most frequently myriapods and slugs 6 The European cave spider is not dangerous to humans and although in common with nearly all spiders they have venom its effect on large mammals is negligible They are unlikely to bite if carefully handled but if sufficiently provoked they are capable of inflicting an unpleasant nip They are non aggressive and generally slow moving and are regarded by arachnophiles as gentle giants Life cycle editAfter mating females produce a drop shaped egg sac cocoon Egg sacs are tear shaped white pendants sometimes with a slightly yellow centre usually hanging from the roof of the habitat by a silk thread approximately 20 mm long Egg sacs are usually laid in the vicinity of the cave entrance where the air flow velocity ranges between 0 3 and 0 6 m s The cocoon 2 3 cm in radius contains an average of 200 300 eggs and is laid near the cave entrance at the end of the summer After hatching the spiderlings remain in the cocoon until the first molt feeding on the yolk They leave the cocoon in spring move towards the cave entrance and disperse via ballooning outside the cave 5 7 Media mistakes editA media frenzy was caused when British Telecom engineers working in the grounds of Windsor Castle discovered a colony living in conduits and manholes These were incorrectly described as swarms of aggressive spiders up to 9 cm in size which a leading entomologist believed were venomous The BBC reported that it may be a new species or a type of spider previously thought to have been extinct for thousands of years 8 The initial incident was widely reported but when the species was properly identified the matter received little publicity References edit Locket Millidge amp Merrett British Spiders vol III 1974 ISBN 978 0 903874 02 1 Smithers P Bulletin of the British Arachnological Society 2005 Vol 13 Part 6 Pages 213 216 UK Joint Nature Conservation Committee http www jncc gov uk page 1815 Archived 2009 01 22 at the Wayback Machine HUBERT Michel 1979 Les Araignees Generalites Araignees de France et des pays limitrophes Paris France Societe nouvelle des editions Boubee p 158 ISBN 978 2 85004 020 7 a b Mammola Stefano Isaia Marco 2014 Niche differentiation in Meta Bourneti and M menardi Araneae Tetragnathidae with notes on the life history International Journal of Speleology 43 3 343 353 doi 10 5038 1827 806x 43 3 11 hdl 2318 148030 Peter Smithers Journal of Arachnology August 2005 Chiavazzo Eliodoro Isaia Marco Mammola Stefano Lepore Emiliano Ventola Luigi Asinari Pietro Pugno Nicola Maria 2015 01 05 Cave spiders choose optimal environmental factors with respect to the generated entropy when laying their cocoon Scientific Reports 5 7611 Bibcode 2015NatSR 5E7611C doi 10 1038 srep07611 PMC 5154591 PMID 25556697 Venomous spiders nest near Queen s home BBC News 19 June 2001 Retrieved 30 October 2018 Further reading editSmithers Peter 2005 The diet of the cave spider Meta Menardi PDF Journal of Arachnology 33 2 243 246 doi 10 1636 ct 05 2 1 S2CID 73719797 Retrieved 2010 11 18 External links editPictures of Meta menardi at Nick s Spiders Photos of Meta menardi living in Norway Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Meta menardi amp oldid 1220644505, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,