Water spider (Argyroneta aquatica) spiderlings and feeding

pronty

Haunting Spider
Old Timer
Joined
Feb 18, 2003
Messages
325
A bit over a month ago I found a water spider nest while cleaning my backyard pond. It floated to the surface so I didn't want to leave it there. A week later spiderlings started to emerge. I released most of them back into the pond and kept some in different containers. Now, a month later, MORE spiderlings have emerged so she must have laid a second eggsac.
Also, I tested if the female would take food (a mealworm) from the surface and she did. She didn't take the mealworm to her nest but instead made a temporary diving bell. I wondered why she did that, but she must have had the second eggsac in the nest already. Yesterday I also gave her a mealworm and she did take it in her nest.


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Brewser

AraneaeRebel
Arachnosupporter
Joined
Nov 28, 2023
Messages
1,044
Very Nice Photography
Calling Triple A...
Astounding Aquatic Arachnid
Nature always finds a way to Adapt.
 
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pronty

Haunting Spider
Old Timer
Joined
Feb 18, 2003
Messages
325
I think this is the spider I found early in the spring. I hadn't seen much of him until today. Seems like he has become a mature male. Water spider males are larger than females.



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I managed to get a picture of the female too with a 2 Euro coin.


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drurymercy

Arachnoknight
Arachnosupporter
Joined
Mar 23, 2024
Messages
199
A bit over a month ago I found a water spider nest while cleaning my backyard pond. It floated to the surface so I didn't want to leave it there. A week later spiderlings started to emerge. I released most of them back into the pond and kept some in different containers. Now, a month later, MORE spiderlings have emerged so she must have laid a second eggsac.
Also, I tested if the female would take food (a mealworm) from the surface and she did. She didn't take the mealworm to her nest but instead made a temporary diving bell. I wondered why she did that, but she must have had the second eggsac in the nest already. Yesterday I also gave her a mealworm and she did take it in her nest.


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This is beyond cool!!! I’m saving this to watch on repeat💕💕
 

Glorfindel

Arachnoknight
Active Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2024
Messages
210
It's like a Diving Bell for Spiders
A. Aquatica takes swimming to the next level.
 

Arachnopotamus Rex

Arachnosquire
Active Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2024
Messages
128
So cool! 🤩 I've wanted to breed these for a while but wasn't sure it was realistic, This gives me hope. :)
 
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