The big spider in the middle of a web is, in fact, always female. Males are little more than walking sacs of sperm without the time, or need, for hunting. Their webs and weaponry are puny in comparison \u2013 females have the longest fangs and most potent venom. They also live longer and grow larger in order to nourish as many eggs as possible. To do so they\u2019ve become nature\u2019s greatest (and deadliest) engineers.<\/p>\n

Males are little more than walking sacs of sperm without the time, or need, for hunting. <\/blockquote> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>
What makes Darwin\u2019s bark spider special?<\/h2>\n
Darwin\u2019s bark spider is the world record holder. Her silk is the toughest biological material ever studied \u2013 twice as strong as any other spider\u2019s and 10 times tougher than Kevlar. She uses it to spin the biggest webs ever recorded: one orb measured 2.8m2, with anchor lines over 24m long. She casts over streams with the web resting above water where it can trap flying insects as they hatch. One was found to contain 32 mayflies \u2013 their short life rendered even shorter by this extraordinary hunter.<\/p>\n
Does the female Darwin\u2019s bark spider really eat her sexual suitors?<\/h2>\n
She\u2019s not averse to catching and eating her sexual suitors before, during or after sex. Studies have shown that cannibalism provides the female with superior sustenance, as the nutrients derived from the male are effectively tailor-made for making baby spiders. Sexual cannibalism is thus the ultimate act of paternal care, as long as the munched male is actually the father<\/p>\n
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