Ctenizidae (lat.) Is a family of migalomorphic spiders , numbering 9 genera and about 120 species. Distributed in the United States , Central America , the Mediterranean , South Africa , Australia , South and Southeast Asia . Unlike other migalomorphic spiders, ctenizids have sharp spikes on chelicera , with which they dig the earth. Spiders are mostly nocturnal and live in minks covered with "hatches" of cobwebs , soil and plant material, hence the English name "trapdoor spider" (trapdoor - hatch). Ctenizids from the genus Conothele do not dig a mink, but make a spider web with a hatch in the crevices of the bark.
| Ctenizidae |
Bothriocyrtum californicum |
| Scientific classification |
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| No rank : | Bilateral symmetrical |
| Infrastructure : | Megalomorphic spiders |
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| International scientific name |
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Ctenizidae Thorell , 1887 |
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It is difficult to notice the hatch, since the soil and plants of which it consists effectively camouflage it. The spider, as a rule, is inside and holds on to the door with its paws, waiting for the prey to appear and touch the signal threads stretched next to the mink. When the spider feels the vibration of the threads, it jumps out and grabs the victim. Ctenysid is preyed by insects , other arthropods, and even small vertebrates . A hungry spider may not hide in the whole mink, but sit half leaning out of it.
Females never move away from their minks, especially when offspring are raised. At the same time they belch part of the food for feeding spider. Despite the fact that females react aggressively to the approach of males , they somehow manage to overcome their resistance.
The main enemy of ktenizid is road wasps that find minks, penetrate inside, sting and paralyze spiders, after which they lay eggs on them, usually one at a time. A wasp larva hatches from the egg later and eats the spider alive. Thus, the road wasp is a parasitoid .
