Social spider
Spiders that form long-lasting aggregations
A social spider is a species of spider which lives in a group. Most spiders are solitary, but a few species in tropical habitats live in large groups.[1]
This social organisation has evolved independently a number of times. At least 23 species in eight families are known.[2]
These spiders have not developed a caste system, and so they are not classed as eusocial. The first one was discovered over a century ago by Eugène Simon (30 April 1848 – 17 November 1924). This French naturalist described over 4,000 species of spider.[3]
References change
- ↑ Goldman, James G. 2016. Meet the spiders that have formed armies 50,000 strong. BBC Earth. [1] Includes excellent photographs.
- ↑ Agnarsson, Ingi et al 2006. Sociality in Theridiid spiders: repeated origins of an evolutionary dead end. Evolution 60 (11): 2342–51. [2]
- ↑ Platnick, Norman I.; Raven, Robert J. (2013). "Spider systematics: past and future". Zootaxa. 3683 (5): 595–600. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3683.5.8. PMID 25250473.
