Wild caught Female Adult Phidippus Audax just laid eggs

[pandabacon]

Like the title shows my adult female Audax laid a clutch of eggs last night. I do not know if these are fertile or not but considering she is wild caught there is a good chance. If they do end up hatching I will probably keep 2 - 4 to raise and release the rest in my yard. About how long does it take for Audax eggs to hatch? I have some research to do any help would be appreciated. Best food and care tips for 1st - 2nd instar is what im really not sure about.

 

[pannaking22]

I believe it's about 3 weeks for them to hatch, though temps and humidity definitely influence the timing. The slings will need tiny food items, flightless fruit flies or pinhead crickets are good options.

 

[pandabacon]

I believe it's about 3 weeks for them to hatch, though temps and humidity definitely influence the timing. The slings will need tiny food items, flightless fruit flies or pinhead crickets are good options.

Thanks for the reply! I have some other questions though. Will the mother spider eat at all during this 3 weeks or is she going to stay in her house and guard the eggs the whole time? Is she ok without food for 3 weeks for should I be trying to feed her at all during this period?

 

[pannaking22]

Thanks for the reply! I have some other questions though. Will the mother spider eat at all during this 3 weeks or is she going to stay in her house and guard the eggs the whole time? Is she ok without food for 3 weeks for should I be trying to feed her at all during this period?

She probably won't eat, but if she comes out and wanders you can throw something in for her. Just lightly mist on occasion and everything should be fine until the eggs hatch. If you keep an eye on the sac, you'll notice that it darkens up a few days before the eggs hatch.

 

[pandabacon]

She probably won't eat, but if she comes out and wanders you can throw something in for her. Just lightly mist on occasion and everything should be fine until the eggs hatch. If you keep an eye on the sac, you'll notice that it darkens up a few days before the eggs hatch.

Thank you! I will keep an eye on the egg sac for it to darken. She has covered it pretty well with webbing now and I haven't moved her as I didn't want to disturb her. Ill just leave her be until I see her come out of her nest. She was eating every day before she laid these and was extremely chubby so I bet she can go awhile like this.

 

[pandabacon]

Quick update. It has now been over 3 weeks and no baby spiders but the mother is still guarding them day and night. It has gotten colder (Northern CA so nothing crazy) around here in the last week so Im wondering if that is affecting how long they are taking to emerge? She laid them on Oct 23rd. She opened an hole at the top of her nest yesterday so I was actually able to feed her today finally after 3 weeks. I stuck a small fly into the hole she made so it was in there with her and when it started to move she grabbed it and is feeding. Before she made that hole I was not able to get food to her.

 

[pannaking22]

Lower temps can definitely affect how long the sac takes to hatch. Has it begun to darken? Good to hear that she took the meal.

 

[pandabacon]

Lower temps can definitely affect how long the sac takes to hatch. Has it begun to darken? Good to hear that she took the meal.

I can't see the actual eggs she has webbed them up too well and is always sitting on top of them. I am glad she ate though too. Thanks for the reply Ill keep waiting and checking on her.

Edit: I have to mention that I love and am amazed at how tidy these spiders are. she kicked the dead used up fly out of nest which is a common trait of all my Bold jumpers.

 

[pandabacon]

Was worried they were never going to hatch but babies are emerging today. First warm day in weeks. How long do I have until they disperse? Planning on letting them go in my yard.

 

[BenLeeKing]

Was worried they were never going to hatch but babies are emerging today. First warm day in weeks. How long do I have until they disperse? Planning on letting them go in my yard.

My Phidippus otiosus took about 2 weeks~ It's gonna be a while...

 

[pandabacon]

That was quite awhile but the last of the babies have left the enclosure and they are all in my yard and have a good start to survive for next year. The Mother appears healthy and has been eating crickets the past week and is currently munching on a medium sized cricket. It's just about to be winter full on here which is never too bad but I don't expect her to live much longer as she has been mature all through the summer. Hopefully I can catch one of her offspring next spring.

 

[pandabacon]

Update, Mother is still alive and well and active. There are around 30-40 of her offspring that all dispersed last week into my yard and the weather here is just starting to get colder. Hopefully I see a lot of these next summer I will assume they are her offspring.

I have to say the experience was actually pretty easy and I barely had to do anything. The mother guarded and stayed with her eggs 95% of the time they were incubating and after they hatched before they were ready to disperse she always stayed close to the nest. The slings all slowly dispersed and only did so during the day so It was easy to move them outside and open their enclosure to let them slowly disperse.

The mother spider went without food for over 4 weeks before I was able to feed her by placing prey inside of her nest which she grabbed immediately. She started to hunt again regularly once the eggs hatched and the slings were hanging out in the nest. I never saw her harm or accidentally prey on any of her babies nor did the babies have time to eat each other. It was such a nice and easy experience overall.

 

[pandabacon]

Well I guess the Momma Spider wasn't done. Clutch 2 was laid last night. I'm surprised as it's pretty late in the year but its warm in my house. Looks to be around 30 - 40 eggs same as last time.

 

[MoranDisciple]

Well I guess the Momma Spider wasn't done. Clutch 2 was laid last night. I'm surprised as it's pretty late in the year but its warm in my house. Looks to be around 30 - 40 eggs same as last time.

Necromancy time! How did the second clutch do? I assume momma passed away but do you still have any of her offspring?

 

[TheAuduxity]

Update, Mother is still alive and well and active. There are around 30-40 of her offspring that all dispersed last week into my yard and the weather here is just starting to get colder. Hopefully I see a lot of these next summer I will assume they are her offspring.

I have to say the experience was actually pretty easy and I barely had to do anything. The mother guarded and stayed with her eggs 95% of the time they were incubating and after they hatched before they were ready to disperse she always stayed close to the nest. The slings all slowly dispersed and only did so during the day so It was easy to move them outside and open their enclosure to let them slowly disperse.

The mother spider went without food for over 4 weeks before I was able to feed her by placing prey inside of her nest which she grabbed immediately. She started to hunt again regularly once the eggs hatched and the slings were hanging out in the nest. I never saw her harm or accidentally prey on any of her babies nor did the babies have time to eat each other. It was such a nice and easy experience overall.

did you notice if the eggs went black right before hatching?