Velvet spider
Velvet spiders (family Eresidae) are a small group (about 130 species in 9 genera) of spiders almost entirely limited to the Old World, with exception of a few species known from Brazil. The characteristics of this family of spiders are that they are entelegyne (have a genital plate in the female), eight-eyed araneomorph spiders that build unkempt webs. They are cribellate (use woolly silk). Some species are nearly eusocial, lacking only a specialized caste system and a queen. They cooperate in brood rearing, unlike most other spiders except for some African agelenid spiders in the genus "Agelena" and a few others.

Female velvet spiders exhibit a remarkable type maternal care unique among arachnids. Upon the birth of her brood, the mother spider liquefies her internal organs and regurgitates this material as food. Once her capability to liquefy her insides is exhausted, the young sense this and consume the mother.

The genus "Penestomus" was previously placed in Eresidae as the subfamily Penestominae, but was elevated to its own family, Penestomidae, in 2010.

Spiders of the genus "Stegodyphus" genus, such as "Stegodyphus sarasinorum" in India, are known for their elaborate and robust nests and their colony integrity.
Q7432
species
Concept
Q34740
genera
Concept
Q1357
spider
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Q138259
entelegyne
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Q12084
araneomorph
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Q1139884
cribellate
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Q753694
eusocial
Concept
Q5850
agelenid
Concept
Q427074
Agelena
Concept
Q2171499
Penestomidae
Concept
Q2193255
Stegodyphus sarasinorum
Concept
Q10067
Velvet spider
Concept
2010-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
2010
DATE
+9^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
9
NUMBER
parent taxon
taxonomic type
parent taxon