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Diving Bell (Argyroneta aquatica)

The Diving Bell Spider is the only species of the genus Argyroneta, belonging to the Dictynidae family is the only known species to be remained submerged in water for most of the times, be it when resting, hunting for preys, mating or laying eggs. They would only be seen on the land surface to replenish their oxygen supply. These species are indigenous to different parts of Europe and Asia.

Diving Bell Spider

Scientific Classification

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size: They are exceptional when it comes to size as males being 10mm to 15mm long are approximately 30% larger than their female counterparts that have a body length of 8mm to 12mm.

Color: They are light or dark brown in color, while their abdomen has a velvety appearance. When underwater they have a silvery hue mostly because of the air bubble trapped in the hairs surrounding their legs and abdomen.

Other Characteristic Features: The males have longer and slender front legs than the females that give them a stronger diving ability.

Diving Bell Spider Size

Eggs

The female spider lays 30 to 70 eggs at a time in the egg sac.

Spiderlings

The spiderlings remain with their mother for a while after birth till they mature, post which they disperse to lead a life of their own.

The Web

Their web is unique as they weave a silk bubble that is dome –shaped amidst the underwater vegetation known as diving bell. The egg sac is also constructed by the female spider within this bell.

Diving Bell Spider Web

Does the Water Spider Bite and Are They Poisonous

Though they are not known to cause much harm to humans, the diving bell spiders have a painful bite which might result in mild fever, vomiting, localized pain and inflammation that would subside in a few days.

Quick Facts

Other Names Water spider
Lifespan One year
Distribution Throughout Europe including the British Isles, as well as northern parts of Asia including countries of Russia, Turkey, Japan, Caucasus, Korea, China and Iran
Habitat Underwater, mostly in ponds, marshes, eutrophic lakes, swamps, and slow moving streams
Common Predators Fish and frogs
Diet Aquatic insects, and mosquito larvae
Water Spider

Did You Know

  • The appearance of this species resulted in their genus name Argyroneta, where argyros in the Greek language means silver and neta obtained from neo (the verb) stands for spin, thus translating to “spinner of silver”.
  • The females are smaller because they have larger bells and most of their energy goes into building and maintaining them.
  • The diving bell of these spiders that they weave serve as their gills, absorbing the oxygen from the water the moment the spider inhales it. In fact, the bell is so efficient in exchanging gases that oxygen can even be extracted when the water is stagnant.

Image Credits: Assets.wired.com, Media.treehugger.com, Abc.net.au, I.pinimg.com

The Diving Bell Spider is the only species of the genus Argyroneta, belonging to the Dictynidae family is the only known species to be remained submerged in water for most of the times, be it when resting, hunting for preys, mating or laying eggs. They would only be seen on the land surface to replenish their oxygen supply. These species are indigenous to different parts of Europe and Asia.

Diving Bell Spider

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size: They are exceptional when it comes to size as males being 10mm to 15mm long are approximately 30% larger than their female counterparts that have a body length of 8mm to 12mm.

Color: They are light or dark brown in color, while their abdomen has a velvety appearance. When underwater they have a silvery hue mostly because of the air bubble trapped in the hairs surrounding their legs and abdomen.

Other Characteristic Features: The males have longer and slender front legs than the females that give them a stronger diving ability.

Diving Bell Spider Size

Eggs

The female spider lays 30 to 70 eggs at a time in the egg sac.

Spiderlings

The spiderlings remain with their mother for a while after birth till they mature, post which they disperse to lead a life of their own.

The Web

Their web is unique as they weave a silk bubble that is dome –shaped amidst the underwater vegetation known as diving bell. The egg sac is also constructed by the female spider within this bell.

Diving Bell Spider Web

Does the Water Spider Bite and Are They Poisonous

Though they are not known to cause much harm to humans, the diving bell spiders have a painful bite which might result in mild fever, vomiting, localized pain and inflammation that would subside in a few days.

Quick Facts

Other Names Water spider
Lifespan One year
Distribution Throughout Europe including the British Isles, as well as northern parts of Asia including countries of Russia, Turkey, Japan, Caucasus, Korea, China and Iran
Habitat Underwater, mostly in ponds, marshes, eutrophic lakes, swamps, and slow moving streams
Common Predators Fish and frogs
Diet Aquatic insects, and mosquito larvae
Water Spider

Did You Know

  • The appearance of this species resulted in their genus name Argyroneta, where argyros in the Greek language means silver and neta obtained from neo (the verb) stands for spin, thus translating to “spinner of silver”.
  • The females are smaller because they have larger bells and most of their energy goes into building and maintaining them.
  • The diving bell of these spiders that they weave serve as their gills, absorbing the oxygen from the water the moment the spider inhales it. In fact, the bell is so efficient in exchanging gases that oxygen can even be extracted when the water is stagnant.

Image Credits: Assets.wired.com, Media.treehugger.com, Abc.net.au, I.pinimg.com

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