Dwarf spider
The dwarf spider, scientifically known as Floronica bucculenta, is a small arachnid that typically measures about 1/6 of an inch long. It is most commonly found in Europe, particularly in shady woods and low-growing vegetation. One of its distinctive features is its ability to change color from black to light brown when disturbed or threatened, a trait that is rare among spiders. In the British Isles, this spider is often referred to as the "money spider," associated with good luck and wealth.
Dwarf spiders build large, thick webs comprising a sheet with sticky silken strands, which capture insects that become entangled. The dwarf spider waits on the web to collect its prey, delivering a quick bite to immobilize it. Reproduction occurs in spring through direct fertilization, followed by the female laying and covering her eggs with silk. The young spiders remain on the mother's web until they are ready to fend for themselves, and the entire life cycle spans about one year. This unique combination of traits makes the dwarf spider an interesting subject of study within the arachnid family.
Subject Terms
Dwarf spider
The dwarf spider, Floronica bucculenta, is unusual among spiders in its ability to change colors. Although typically black, this spider may change to a light shade of brown when it is disturbed or threatened. In the British Isles the dwarf spider is called the money spider and thought to bring good luck and wealth.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneida
Family: Linyphidae
Genus: Floronica
Species: Bucculenta
Although dwarf spiders may be found throughout the world, this species is common only in Europe. It is commonly found living among the low-growing vegetation of shady woods and forests.
As its name suggests, the dwarf spider is a very small creature. The dwarf spider may grow to be just 1/6 of an inch (less than 1/2 a centimeter) long. Like other spiders, the dwarf spider is divided into the two main parts of cephalothorax and abdomen. The cephalothorax is made up of the head and thorax, or mid-body section. The cephalothorax of the dwarf spider is typically long and narrow. The rounded abdomen is the lower-body section. This portion contains most of the internal organs of the dwarf spider. The cephalothorax is also known as the prosoma and the abdomen is also known as the opisthosoma. Between the cephalothorax and the abdomen is a narrow connecting tube called the pedicel. Unlike most dwarf spiders, which are black, brown, or white, this dwarf spider is able to change colors when it is disturbed or threatened. This ability is rare among most families of spiders.
Like many other spiders, the dwarf spider has eight legs extending from the lower portion of the cephalothorax and a pair of palps extending from the head of its cephalothorax. The palps are used for tearing and grasping. These appendages are especially helpful in web construction and the removal of prey from silken strands.
In spite of its small size, the dwarf spider constructs a large, thick web of silken threads. The main part of the web is constructed like a sheet above which are many individual strands of sticky silk. As insects move through the low-level vegetation of the woods, they become stuck on these strands. Many insects fall to the sheet below upon becoming entangled in the sticky silken strands. The dwarf spider, who waits on the sheet-web, quickly collects its victims as they fall. The insects are killed by a final bite by the dwarf spider.
The dwarf spider begins its mating process during the warm weather of the spring. Like other spiders, the dwarf spider reproduces by direct fertilization. With this, the male's sperm is released directly into the body of the female. Mammals also reproduce by direct fertilization.
After mating, the female the dwarf spider lays her eggs. She covers her eggs with silken threads within her web. After a short developmental period within the eggs, the young the dwarf spiders hatch. They stay on their mother's web until they are old enough to survive on their own.
The dwarf spider has a life span of about one year.