Here is a short film of a Crab Spider - Xysticus sp. excreting.
I have only observed this once before, in a large, gravid female Nursery
Web Spider (Pisaura Mirabilis), she literally squirted it out like a jet spray!
I've never looked into this before but I learned some interesting facts about
Spider excretions today. Spiders don't produce much waste, as they do not
consume the indigestible parts (exoskeleton) of their prey. They do not have
separate urine and feces. Spider droppings consist mainly of Guanine (a
component of DNA, found in all life on Earth), also Adenine, Hypoxanthine
and Uric acid, all of which are nitrogenous.
I have only observed this once before, in a large, gravid female Nursery
Web Spider (Pisaura Mirabilis), she literally squirted it out like a jet spray!
I've never looked into this before but I learned some interesting facts about
Spider excretions today. Spiders don't produce much waste, as they do not
consume the indigestible parts (exoskeleton) of their prey. They do not have
separate urine and feces. Spider droppings consist mainly of Guanine (a
component of DNA, found in all life on Earth), also Adenine, Hypoxanthine
and Uric acid, all of which are nitrogenous.
Thank you Nik! My first time seeing a spider excreting and frankly, I haven't thought about it much. Why isn't there more frass or some such poop in their webs? But right, they suck their prey dry.
ReplyDeleteThis is a damn fine arachniscape here, music and footage. Thank you so much for your insights about spiders. ~7Song
Many thanks 7song! I haven't really thought about it before either. A lucky capture - a privilege no less! Amazing how it dissolves. I love the way she scuttles off. Made me chuckle at the time. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDelete