The Vampire spider is a special kind of jumping spider. It lives near Lake Victoria, close to Uganda and Kenya. Why is it called a Vampire spider? Because it loves to eat mosquitoes that suck blood, especially the female ones!
Size: Females are 0.15 – 0.27 inches (0.4 – 0.7 cm) on average, while the males measure approximately 0.11 – 0.23 inches (0.3 – 0.6 cm).
Color: Sexual dimorphism is visible when it comes to body color. The adult males have a blood-red face with white patches over their eyes. In contrast, the females appear greyish-brown with red spots.
Other Characteristic Features: Their bodies are covered in fine hair, adding to their unique appearance.
Eggs
Eggs are laid by female spiders and kept inside a silken sac, like other jumping spiders.
Spiderlings
The spiderlings have a close similarity to their parents, while the juveniles come with a grayish-brown face.
The Web
They spin webs that comprise silken tubes within which lies the nest built using dead leaves and grasses. The web is four and six times longer and wider than the spider’s length and width. However, when it comes to capturing prey, they mostly hunt and do not build webs for the purpose.
Are Vampire Spiders Venomous?
Yes, Vampire spiders have venom. They use it mainly to catch mosquitoes and other tiny bugs. But for people, it’s not very strong.
Can Vampire Spiders Bite?
They can bite if they’re disturbed. The bite might feel like a small pinch, but most people don’t think it’s too bad.
Ecological Importance and Behavior of Vampire Spider
Vampire spiders play a crucial role in their ecosystems by helping control mosquito populations, thus contributing to the reduction of mosquito-borne diseases. Their unique behavior of using the blood from mosquitoes as a scent to attract mates further highlights their fascinating ecological adaptations.
Natural Predators: Vampire spiders, like many other arachnids, face threats from birds, larger spiders, and certain insect species. These natural predator-prey dynamics help maintain ecological balance within their habitats.
Prey-Predator Dynamics: The Vampire spider’s role as both a predator of mosquitoes and prey for larger animals illustrates the complex interactions that sustain biodiversity and ecological equilibrium.
Relationship with Humans: While Vampire spiders are not of significant concern to humans due to their non-aggressive nature and weak venom, their unique feeding habits and striking appearance have made them a subject of interest and study.
Quick Facts
Distribution
Uganda and Kenya
Habitat
Tree trunks, walls of buildings
Diet
Mosquitoes
Lifespan
Not known
IUCN Conservation Status
Not listed
Did You Know
Vampire spiders use the blood from mosquitoes as a scent to attract mates.
In summary, the Vampire spider stands out as a captivating example of nature’s ingenuity, showcasing unique feeding habits, striking physical characteristics, and a vital ecological role.
The Evarcha culicivora is called a vampire spider because of its unique diet of preying on blood-engorged female mosquitoes. This spider does not consume blood directly from vertebrates but instead targets these specific insects, making its feeding behavior unique among jumping spiders and earning it its common name.
A male vampire spider has a distinct blood-red face contrasted with white patches of hair directly over its eyes. This coloration is a key feature of sexual dimorphism in the species, making males easily distinguishable from the more subdued greyish-brown females. Their bodies are also covered in fine hairs.
Vampire spiders are not considered dangerous to humans. While they possess venom to subdue their insect prey, it is not potent enough to cause significant harm to people. A bite, which typically only occurs if the spider is provoked, is often described as feeling like a minor pinch.
Vampire spiders hunt their prey by actively stalking and pouncing, characteristic of jumping spiders, rather than building webs for capture. They use their excellent vision to locate and ambush mosquitoes. While they spin silk, it is used to create tubular nests for shelter, not for trapping food.
Vampire spiders primarily live in the regions surrounding Lake Victoria in East Africa, specifically in parts of Kenya and Uganda. They are often found on vegetation and the walls of human dwellings where their preferred prey, blood-fed mosquitoes, are abundant. This proximity is linked to their food source.
The primary ecological importance of the vampire spider is its role as a natural predator of mosquitoes. By specifically targeting and consuming blood-engorged female mosquitoes, they help control local mosquito populations. This predation can contribute to reducing the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases like malaria in their native habitat.
The main difference between male and female vampire spiders is their coloration, a feature known as sexual dimorphism. Adult males have a vibrant blood-red face with white patches, while females are a more camouflaged greyish-brown color with some red spots. Males are also typically slightly smaller than females.
Dr. James Watuwa on March 17, 2020.
Spider Team
