Small spiders that work together to overpower insects

[dragonblade71]

Years ago, I vaguely recall seeing a documentary that featured a group of very small spiders that live together in a web. Sort of like a colony. The interesting thing about these spiders in that they used team work to over power insects that got caught in their web. Basically working together like ants to take on bigger creatures. Would anyone here know what species or genus these spiders would likely be?

 

[BoyFromLA]

Agelena consociata.

 

[dragonblade71]

I did some searching and it looks like there are a few examples of these kinds of spiders that share this way of life (likely different genera.) Looks like they're referred to as social spiders as a whole.

 

[dragonblade71]

BoyFromLA, ah thank you. Ive just looked up Agelena consociata. Very interesting reading about the conditions in the tropical environment that lead to the development of cooperative spider groups.

Why Do Some Spiders Cooperate? Agelena consociata, a Case Study on JSTOR

Susan E. Riechert, Why Do Some Spiders Cooperate? Agelena consociata, a Case Study, The Florida Entomologist, Vol. 68, No. 1 (Mar., 1985), pp. 105-116

www.jstor.org