The Kaua’i cave wolf spider or the blind spider as it is alternately called by the local residents is a rare species indigenous to Kauai’s Koloa Poipu region in the Hawaiian Islands, with only six populations existing at present.
Size: They are 20 mm or 0.8 inches in length.
Color: These spiders have a reddish brown carapace, silvery abdomen, and beige or pale orange legs.
Other characteristics: The wolf spiders generally have two big eyes, situated in the center of their eight eyes, but these species are different devoid of any eyes, which also earn them the name big-eyed or no-eyed wolf spider.
Only 15 to 30 eggs are produced per clutch and the egg sac is carried by the mother till the time the spiderlings hatch.
Once the juvenile spiders mature a little after being hatched, they disperse and are on their own.
The wolf spiders are swift with a sharp vision that helps them in capturing prey, hence they do not need to spin sticky webs for the purpose. Hence, following the trend of their family the Kaua’i cave wolf spiders also do not spin webs and stalk their preys actively.
These spiders are not harmful and may bite only if provoked or threatened. However, there have been no reports of the toxicity of its venom and its harm to human life is unknown.
| Other names | Blind-eye spider, Big-eyed spider |
| Lifespan | Males: 1 year approximately Females: Longer than males, may be for several years |
| Distribution | Kaua’I region of Hawaiian islands |
| Habitat | Being cave spiders, they are found in cave-bearing rocks, subterranean cracks, spaces, and voids |
| Diet | Crickets, ants, small lizards, grasshoppers, and different kinds of small invertebrates |
| IUCN Conservation Status | Endangered |
Image Credits: Pbs.twimg.com, Fws.gov, Biolib.cz
The Kaua’i cave wolf spider or the blind spider as it is alternately called by the local residents is a rare species indigenous to Kauai’s Koloa Poipu region in the Hawaiian Islands, with only six populations existing at present.
Size: They are 20 mm or 0.8 inches in length.
Color: These spiders have a reddish brown carapace, silvery abdomen, and beige or pale orange legs.
Other characteristics: The wolf spiders generally have two big eyes, situated in the center of their eight eyes, but these species are different devoid of any eyes, which also earn them the name big-eyed or no-eyed wolf spider.
Only 15 to 30 eggs are produced per clutch and the egg sac is carried by the mother till the time the spiderlings hatch.
Once the juvenile spiders mature a little after being hatched, they disperse and are on their own.
The wolf spiders are swift with a sharp vision that helps them in capturing prey, hence they do not need to spin sticky webs for the purpose. Hence, following the trend of their family the Kaua’i cave wolf spiders also do not spin webs and stalk their preys actively.
These spiders are not harmful and may bite only if provoked or threatened. However, there have been no reports of the toxicity of its venom and its harm to human life is unknown.
| Other names | Blind-eye spider, Big-eyed spider |
| Lifespan | Males: 1 year approximately Females: Longer than males, may be for several years |
| Distribution | Kaua’I region of Hawaiian islands |
| Habitat | Being cave spiders, they are found in cave-bearing rocks, subterranean cracks, spaces, and voids |
| Diet | Crickets, ants, small lizards, grasshoppers, and different kinds of small invertebrates |
| IUCN Conservation Status | Endangered |
Image Credits: Pbs.twimg.com, Fws.gov, Biolib.cz
