Dysdera sp. - Cyprus

Dysdera is a genus of spiders from the family Dysilera (Dysderidae), Dysderidae is the largest family of spiders, containing over 240 types and most inhabit small regions in the Mediterranean. They originated from Central Asia to Central Europe, Dysdera crocata, Dysdera ninnii Canestrini, Dysdera dubrovninnii, Dysdera hungarica Kulczyñski, Dysdera longirostris Doblika are the five groups still found in Central Europe after the last glacial period. They are also abundantly found in North African countries like Morocco, Egypt, Ethiopia, The Iberian Peninsula, and Australia. Some species are found in the U.S., Dysdera crocata is found from New England down to Georgia and all the way across the country in California. However, at least two species inhabit South America (D. solers in Colombia, (possibly a relict species from the post-miocene era) and D. magna in Brazil and Uruguay, they are also very common in the central area of Chile). While Dysdera inhabits all of the Macaronesian archipelagos, the most drastic change from strictly the Canary Islands. Researches have discovered around 50 species just on the Canary Islands, six of those 50 are associated with the oldest eastern island. The spider population are limited to the highest elevation on Lanzarote and Fuerteventura islands. The most likely reason why Dysdera are abundantly found on the Canary Islands is due to 27 species found on the close shores of the Iberian peninsula and North Africa. Groups like Dysdera Crocata and Dysdera Erythrina found on the two neighboring lands are found more often than Dysdera Lata, Longirostris, which are also found in North Africa and Iberia. This family of spiders from there separate species have many common names; European garden spider, slater-eating spider, sow-bug killer, woodlouse hunter, and woodlouse spider

Dysdera are unable to produce webs for shelter causing them to be limited to the ground and natural shelters. Dysdera inhabit hot humid forest, or potentially any shelter on and close to the ground. They search for objects to hide under not only because they are ground dwellers but due to the moist earth's footing and keeping the spider warm. Dysdera shelter under objects like gravel with organic material covering it, stones, bark, also sometimes found in suburban gardens, anything to keep them protected from predators during the day. D. unguimannis is considered the most remarkable case of troglomorphism (adaptation to cave life) in the Dysdera genus. They shelter under or in anything they can find but, only during the day due to strictly hunting prey at night.

These spiders can be up to 2 cm long, Females are, on average, larger, 1.1 to 1.5 cm while males are generally 0.9 to 1 cm. While both have a reddish brown color. Their six eyes are close together, in an oval shaped, with reddish legs, a pale abdomen, and a brown cephalothorax. The spider has 8 legs, 3 pairs(6) of legs facing forward and one pair(2) facing backwards

Mating is mainly done during the month of April, after mating the male has minimal to no role in the new baby spiders life. The female is the main caregiver for the young, before laying the eggs she will make a silk pouch to protect and give shelter to the eggs, up to 70 eggs can be produced at once.The female will stay in the silk pouch with the eggs, protecting, and waiting for them to hatch. After hatching the mother cares for her new babies and will stay together until they are ready to go out on their own. The spider's bite is not poisonous to people but is painful do to their large fangs and wide jaw. However, the bite does leave an itchy, swollen, red bump

Dysdera are one of the two known animals to hunt and prey on woodlice. Yet it's not known for certain if that is their only prey, but is known to be their main food source. Their wide jaws and large fangs help to overcome woodlice hard armor like shells, as well as their ability to release chemicals to keep them out of harm's way. Dysdera Crocata is the only species from the Dysdera family to prey on other spiders. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photos Nicosia 14/2/2016 by George Konstantinou