Parental Care in a Rare Spider Pellenes nigrociliatus (L. Koch) var. bilunulata Simon

Abstract

IN May 1959, on a strongly sunlit slope of a road-side scarp adjacent to a pine wood in Toruń (northern Poland), about 20 specimens of snail shells (Helicella candicans (L.Rfv.) were found each of which was suspended high above the ground (up to 18 cm.) on plants (mostly grass) by means of a ‘rope’ twisted together from many spider-silk threads 1–3 cm. long. The entrance to the shell was closed by a ‘curtain’ made from thick spider's fabric. From time to time a horizontal slit (Fig. 1) opened in the curtain, and a pair of white-haired spider's pedipalps appeared in it (Fig. 2). It was, however, difficult to make the inhabitants of the shells come out of them, though they attacked fairly vigorously a needle brought close to the opening in the curtain.