Darwin’s Bark Spider

Darwin’s Bark Spider Latest News

Recently, scientists from institutions in China, Madagascar, Slovenia, and the US studied bark spiders (Caerostris darwini and Caerostris kuntneri) to understand the conditions in which they produce the tough silk. 

About Darwin’s Bark Spider

• The Darwin’s Bark Spider (Caerostris darwini) is a remarkable arachnid famed for producing the largest and toughest known webs in the animal kingdom.
• It belongs to the family Araneidae, or orb-weaver spiders.
• It was discovered in 2001 and formally described in 2009.
• Habitat: It inhabits riverine forests and wetlands.
• Distribution: It is found in the forests of Madagascar.

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Appearance of Darwin’s Bark Spiders

• These are medium-sized, with females reaching about 0.8–1 inch (2–2.5 cm) in body length, while males are significantly smaller.
• They are typically dark brown with mottled patterns, which helps them blend into tree bark.

Characteristics of Darwin’s Bark Spiders

• It weaves silk that outperforms steel and most human-made fibres in both strength and toughness.
• Their silk is more than twice as tough as any other spider silk studied.
• Web-Building Ability: Darwin’s bark spiders construct orb webs that can span rivers and streams, with diameters up to 82 ft (25 m). 
• Lifespan: They have relatively short lifespans, typical of orb-weaving spiders, with females living longer than males.
• Unique Habitat: Unlike most orb-weavers, it builds webs over open water rather than in vegetation.
• Ecological Role of Darwin’s Bark Spiders: They play an important role in controlling insect populations.

Source: TH