European House Spider and Eggs
A European House Spider took up residence in a corner of the ceiling in the girls’ room and made an egg case, which I took pictures of on June 19, 2012
We’d actually noted her making and guarding the egg case some time before, but I was prompted to take the pictures because she had apparently abandoned them, walking all the way over to the far side of the ceiling. Note how thin she was after laying eggs, and then probably not eating for a couple of weeks.
The reason she had wandered off was probably because her eggs were hatching. We can see some of the little spiderlings inside the egg sac if we look closely. If she had stayed with them, she might have been tempted to eat them.
So anyway, the little spiderlings eventually dispersed through the house. We see them from time to time, but for the most part they stay out of sight. I don’t mind having them around at all, they aren’t hurting anyone. As far as that goes, they are probably doing their bit to keep down other little creatures in the house, like fungus gnats from the potted plants, or any carpet beetles or earwigs that might sneak inside.
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So did Mother spider revive? Were you tempted to bring in some insects?
I usually relocate mine outside, but I do get beetles. Perhaps I should let a few stay.
ct
Can they really eat earwigs? I would think the shell would be too tough to crack.
Carole: I’m not sure what became of her, she moved off shortly after the pictures were taken.
KT: I periodically see empty earwig husks hanging in spiderwebs, so the spiders seem to be able to manage them. All they need is one chink in the armor to get their venom and digestive juices into, and then it’s all over for the earwig.
I suppose if the earwig got entangled in your web and you had plenty of time on your hands (all eight of them), you’d keep fishing around until you found a weak spot in the shell. I just can’t imagine the spider seeking out earwigs on purpose.