Wednesday, October 4, 2006

Kauai Cave Wolf Spider


The Kauai cave wolf spider is a mid-sized (0.50 to 0.75-inch) hunting spider that has completely lost its eyes as part of its adaptation to life in lava tubes. Instead of building webs, it chases and grabs its prey or may utilize sit-and wait ambush tactics. Unlike most wolf spiders that produce 100 to 300 spiderlings per clutch, the Kauai cave wolf spider is believed to produce fewer that 30 spiderlings per clutch. Newly hatched spiderlings are unusually large and are carried on the back of the female for only a few days.