Caersotris or bark spiders belong to the orb-weaver spiders family, indigenous to the regions of Madagascar and south eastern Africa. According to April 2019 records the genus has nineteen documented species.
Size: The females are about 3 cm (1.18 inches) long, while the males are smaller with a body length of 1cm (0.39 inches).
Color: Most species of this genus are black with white abdominal hairs. Males mostlyhave red or brown body.
Other Characteristics: The upper parts of their cephalothorax have a bumped appearance, mostly seen in females. Their legs also have a hairless appearance.
The eggs are round and lay protected in an egg sac, hatching in 2 to 3 weeks.
They remain with their mother for a while after being hatched and then disperse to dwell independently.
Their webs are strong and messy, resembling a spiral shape like most orbweaver species.
The species of the Caerostris genus are not venomous, considered harmless to humans.
| Lifespan | Approximately 1 year |
| Distribution | Madagascar and parts of south eastern Africa |
| Habitat | Close to water bodies, swampy areas |
| Diet | Small aquatic insects |
Image Credits: inaturalist.org
Caersotris or bark spiders belong to the orb-weaver spiders family, indigenous to the regions of Madagascar and south eastern Africa. According to April 2019 records the genus has nineteen documented species.
Size: The females are about 3 cm (1.18 inches) long, while the males are smaller with a body length of 1cm (0.39 inches).
Color: Most species of this genus are black with white abdominal hairs. Males mostlyhave red or brown body.
Other Characteristics: The upper parts of their cephalothorax have a bumped appearance, mostly seen in females. Their legs also have a hairless appearance.
The eggs are round and lay protected in an egg sac, hatching in 2 to 3 weeks.
They remain with their mother for a while after being hatched and then disperse to dwell independently.
Their webs are strong and messy, resembling a spiral shape like most orbweaver species.
The species of the Caerostris genus are not venomous, considered harmless to humans.
| Lifespan | Approximately 1 year |
| Distribution | Madagascar and parts of south eastern Africa |
| Habitat | Close to water bodies, swampy areas |
| Diet | Small aquatic insects |
Image Credits: inaturalist.org
