do spiders have urticating hairs?

[juggalo69]

My brother cought a quarter sized spider in our house for me while I was at work. When I got home I threw it a cricket and watched as the spider turned its back to the cricket and vigorously rubbed its abdomen like a T does when it kicks hairs. Now my first thought was oooo!!! baby T, then I remembered I live in Nebraska where we don't have wild T's. My second thought was what is a normal spider doing kicking hair, can they even do that. My third thought was go to the boards and see if anyone knows. So does anyone know?

 

[TRowe]

As far as I know, only new-world theraphosids have urticating hairs. I suspect that what the spider was doing was "throwing silk" at the cricket. It's a quick way of immobilizing prey before the spider gets up close and personal. I could see where it might look similar to kicking hairs, though.

Tim

 

[juggalo69]

Good guess, but it did it and then ran away from the cricket. Never did eat it.
But it did lay an egg sack that night.

 

[cloud711]

maybe what you got there is a tarantula. try posting some pics so that people here can try to identify your spider.