Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: Make it Lady on 26/11/2008 19:47:36

Title: How do spiders lay so many eggs?
Post by: Make it Lady on 26/11/2008 19:47:36

Another question from my son. He is amazed at the number of eggs a spider can lay and wonders how they fit inside such a small animal.

Title: How do spiders lay so many eggs?
Post by: dentstudent on 27/11/2008 09:15:08

Do you know, the first time I read this, I thought it said "Why do spiders have so many legs?". Shows how an assumption can lead you completely astray......

Title: How do spiders lay so many eggs?
Post by: Don_1 on 27/11/2008 10:11:32

Quote from: dentstudent on 27/11/2008 09:15:08

Do you know, the first time I read this, I thought it said "Why do spiders have so many legs?". Shows how an assumption can lead you completely astray......

I am so very glad you did this, I thought I was the only one.

Title: How do spiders lay so many eggs?
Post by: blakestyger on 27/11/2008 11:32:26

I've looked in my spider book and it says that eggs are laid in numerous small batches or fewer large batches but over a longer time - that is, they are never in there all at the same time.

What I didn't know until now was that the eggs pass from the ovaries, down the oviducts and out through the genital opening. They are fertilised in transit as they pass the fertilisation ducts, which pour on sperm that has been previously stored in the spermathecae.

Newly hatched siders can look very sweet.

Title: How do spiders lay so many eggs?
Post by: dentstudent on 27/11/2008 11:35:37

Quote from: blakestyger on 27/11/2008 11:32:26

Newly hatched siders can look very sweet.

Certainly, but it depends from where they've hatched. My cousin is a doctor, and a case of his many years ago was a patient who'd returned from tropical climes and had developed a bulge on their arm. Yup, it all came out spiders......

Title: How do spiders lay so many eggs?
Post by: dentstudent on 27/11/2008 11:37:52

Another friend of mine had been camping in the US, and awoke to discover that for some reason her belly button had become flat. It turned out that a spider had lain (laid??) its eggs in her belly-button and webbed over the top.

Title: How do spiders lay so many eggs?
Post by: dentstudent on 27/11/2008 11:39:15

But I do like the way that they cascade in a little spider waterfall when you tap a clump of them.

Title: How do spiders lay so many eggs?
Post by: blakestyger on 27/11/2008 11:41:40

Quote from: dentstudent on 27/11/2008 11:35:37

Certainly, but it depends from where they've hatched. My cousin is a doctor, and a case of his many years ago was a patient who'd returned from tropical climes and had developed a bulge on their arm. Yup, it all came out spiders......

Yes...I agree, it seems there may be limits to sweetness.

Title: How do spiders lay so many eggs?
Post by: Make it Lady on 27/11/2008 22:16:28

Quote from: blakestyger on 27/11/2008 11:32:26

I've looked in my spider book and it says that eggs are laid in numerous small batches or fewer large batches but over a longer time - that is, they are never in there all at the same time.

What I didn't know until now was that the eggs pass from the ovaries, down the oviducts and out through the genital opening. They are fertilised in transit as they pass the fertilisation ducts, which pour on sperm that has been previously stored in the spermathecae.

Do you want fries with that?

Title: How do spiders lay so many eggs?
Post by: Make it Lady on 27/11/2008 22:17:12

Thanks for all the answers. Freddy is very happy now.

Title: How do spiders lay so many eggs?
Post by: JnA on 27/11/2008 23:14:02

Quote from: blakestyger on 27/11/2008 11:32:26

Newly hatched siders can look very sweet.

how do they taste?

Title: How do spiders lay so many eggs?
Post by: Make it Lady on 27/11/2008 23:21:01

Bitter!

Title: How do spiders lay so many eggs?
Post by: blakestyger on 28/11/2008 09:19:37

Quote from: Make it  Lady on 27/11/2008 22:16:28

Quote from: blakestyger on 27/11/2008 11:32:26

I've looked in my spider book and it says that eggs are laid in numerous small batches or fewer large batches but over a longer time - that is, they are never in there all at the same time.

What I didn't know until now was that the eggs pass from the ovaries, down the oviducts and out through the genital opening. They are fertilised in transit as they pass the fertilisation ducts, which pour on sperm that has been previously stored in the spermathecae.

Do you want fries with that?

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