Spiders are distributed throughout the globe everywhere, only at the North Pole they do not live. There are more than 30 thousand species of these arthropods in the world, more than 2 thousand species are cross-spiders. On the territory of Russia, there are no more than 2 dozen types of crosses. Like all living creatures, spiders protect themselves from danger using their poisonous teeth. Sometimes people become victims of spiders, and for some, a spider bite turns into serious complications. What kind of insect is a spider-cross, and is it dangerous for humans (see)?

You can meet a cross-spider both in nature and in a person’s home. The spider chooses dark, damp shelters where it is easiest for him to hide. The arthropod is predominantly nocturnal, during the day it hides not far from its web. As soon as prey enters the web, the trapping thread begins to vibrate, and the spider immediately rushes towards its victim.

How to recognize a cross

To distinguish the bite of this insect from others, you need to know what a cross spider looks like. The spider owes its name to a mark in the shape of a cross, which is located at the top of its abdomen. The arthropod has a cephalothorax and a round belly of a dark brown color, 8 limbs that are highly sensitive and 8 eyes. The eyes of the spider are located on different sides, which allows the insect to see everything that happens around it. Female crosses have a body length of up to 3 cm, males are much smaller and have a length of about 1 cm.

Arthropods feed on small insects (mosquitoes, midges, flies and aphids), which, getting into the spider's web, cause the threads to vibrate. The spider, with the help of sensitive legs, immediately understands that prey has got into the web. The arthropod then kills the captured insect with poisonous teeth. The cross sometimes immediately eats its victim, but if it is full, then it entangles it with cobwebs and hides it in a secluded place.

For breeding, the male spider chooses a female with a web and attaches to her trapping web on the side. Then he begins to send signals to the female so that she notices him. After mating games the male usually dies, and the fertilized female begins to weave a cocoon in order to later lay eggs in it. For some time, the mother carries a cocoon with eggs on her belly until she finds a suitable secluded place for him. Having chosen such a place, the spider hangs a cocoon there, and after a short time, spiders hatch from the eggs.

Spider bite symptoms

Is the spider spider considered poisonous? The arthropod does not pose a danger to large animals and humans; its poisonous substance is only enough to kill mice and rats. However, this does not mean that a spider bite is harmless. A person, as a rule, can suffer from an arthropod attack if he accidentally gets into the web. In this case, the spider can pounce on a person, mistaking him for a victim. Also, for the purpose of self-defense, the cross-spider will certainly bite a person if he tries to catch him and pick him up.

At the site of a spider bite, a small white spot appears, which has a diameter of no more than 5 kopeck coins, the spot is slightly red at the edges. In terms of pain, the bite of the cross is similar to a bee (see). Some people may not notice the skin puncture at all. An edema appears at the site of the lesion, which, depending on the person's sensitivity to the poisonous substance of the spider, can be quite impressive in size. For allergy sufferers, the cross spider is considered poisonous (see). Symptoms of a bite of a cross are:

  • burning in the affected area;
  • body weakness;
  • redness of the skin;
  • pain in the limbs;
  • headache;
  • high body temperature;
  • the skin at the site of the bite hardens.

Attention! Children and people suffering from allergic reactions are most sensitive to the bite of the cross. Allergy sufferers can have serious complications in the form of severe edema, difficulty breathing and impaired cardiac activity. If any serious signs appear, the victim should be taken to a medical facility immediately.

First aid for a spider bite

There were no fatal outcomes as a result of the attack of the cross, but this does not mean that the victim of an arthropod bite does not need help. In such cases, you must do the following:

  1. The bite site should be washed with warm soapy water to wash away the microparticles of dirt from the skin and prevent infection from entering the wound.
  2. It is recommended to apply to the affected area cold compress, ice or a bottle with cold water. Cold will help reduce pain and relieve the swelling that has formed (see).
  3. If there is pain in the head or when the temperature rises, it is better for the patient to give a Paracetamol tablet.
  4. If an allergy occurs, the victim should be given an available antihistamine.
  5. People with allergies, after being bitten by a cross, must be provided with complete rest and immobilization. Before the arrival of the doctor, the sick person is heavily drunk with warm liquid.
  6. The bite site should not be burned with hot objects, and even more so the wound should not be cut. These actions threaten the penetration of pathogenic bacteria into the affected surface of the skin and the development of purulent inflammation. Also, the wound should never be combed.

Important! When attacking a cross on a child, you must apply for medical care immediately, as spider venom is toxic to young children.

Prevention of bites of the cross

A spider attack can be prevented by following simple rules:

  • going with an overnight stay in nature, you must use by special means to repel insects;
  • the entrance to the tent should be covered very tightly;
  • before going to bed, you need to carefully check the bedding for the presence of insects;
  • after waking up, you should check your personal belongings (clothes and shoes). Spiders can easily hide in human things;
  • clothing for a hike in nature is better to choose with long sleeves and trousers;
  • noticing the web of an arthropod, you need to try not to hurt it. If there is a web, its owner is always nearby;
  • do not go into abandoned dark buildings such as sheds and barns, spiders love to settle in such places. In the dark, where the spider-cross lives, you can not notice the woven web and get into it with your face straight. In such a situation, the bite of the cross will be inevitable;
  • children need to be explained that it is impossible to tease and catch arthropods.

The spider has an excellent appetite, in one day he is able to eat as much food as he weighs. If a large or poisonous insect, which is a threat to the life of an arthropod, the spider tries to get rid of it as quickly as possible. To do this, he simply breaks his web, and the insect unsuitable for food falls.

The threads for weaving the web are in special warts located at the bottom of the abdomen of the cross. When the spider shoots out the threads, under the influence of oxygen, they harden and become strong. To weave one trapping net, the cross requires about 20 m of threads.

Since ancient times, people have used the spider's web as an antibacterial agent, so if a spider has bitten, you can attach its own web to the wound.

Conclusion

Crosses do not pose a potential danger to human life, but this does not mean that you can try to catch a spider. Cross bites are quite painful, especially for young children. For people who are prone to allergies, they can result in serious health consequences.

Millions live in nature various spiders, killing entire armies of insects that are dangerous both for humans and for their homes.

And if not for these arthropods, then the number of mosquitoes, moths, aphids and other insects would be much larger, which would cause great discomfort to people and animals.

What it looks like: description, internal and external structure of the body

One of the most common representatives of the family of round-web spiders is the cross-spider, with more than 1000 varieties. Consider the most prominent representatives of this family, which are the main characteristics of the body structure.

Common cross (Araneus diadematus)

This type of cross is a small spider.

External characteristics he has the following:

  • the body of an adult male reaches a maximum of 1.1 cm, females are larger, specimens up to 4.0 cm can be found;
  • the body cover consists of a strong shell of a yellow-brown hue, which changes during the molting period;
  • wondering how many legs an ordinary cross has, you need to know that the spider has 8 legs, each of which plays its role in the life of an arthropod;
  • the sense organs are well developed. The spider has a good sense of smell and taste, thanks to the hairs that cover the entire body, it easily captures even the smallest fluctuation or vibration;
  • four pairs of eyes, each of which is turned in different directions, create an extensive horizon.

Important! Despite a large number of eye, arthropods of this species are myopic. They can only see shadows and outlines of large objects.

Angular (Araneus angulatus)

Another type of spider-cross, which is listed in the Red Book in many countries.
External differences are represented by the following indicators:

  • females reach small sizes, a maximum of 1.8 cm, but they are still larger than the male, whose length is only 1.2 cm;
  • they do not have a cross, instead, small humps in the amount of 2 pieces, which are located in the abdomen;
  • the whole body is dotted with light-colored hairs;
  • the oral apparatus is located on the cephalothorax;
  • eyes count 8 pieces;
  • there are 4 pairs of legs on the body.

In general, the parts of the body and the respiratory organs are no different from other representatives.

Marble (Araneus marmoreus)

This type of spider has its own external differences:

  • has significant sexual dimorphism. Females grow much larger than males. Their length is up to 18 mm, spiders grow up to 8 mm;
  • these arthropods are endowed with an extensive range of colors and patterns. However, the most common is an orange belly and a black pattern. It is this variation that gives the species its name.

 Other organs, as well as the digestive and respiratory system the same as in other spiders of this species.

Where does it live and how long does it live

Habitat - wet and damp terrain. The greatest probability of meeting with him can occur in places where a large number of trees grow, where they stretch their web, as well as along the banks of reservoirs and even in the attics of various buildings.

Did you know? 2.5 billion years ago, the first spiders appeared on Earth, which gave life to more than 30 thousand species of spiders that live almost everywhere today.

In Russia former countries The CIS, including Ukraine, is inhabited by more than 30 species of spiders. This species of arthropod is a hermit predator, and main feature his behavior is an extremely negative attitude towards his kind. At night, these arthropods weave their trapping webs, and during the daytime they hunt their prey.

What does it eat

The main diet of the spider are small insects. The female during the day absorbs food in an amount equal to her weight. When an inedible insect enters the web, the spider gets rid of it by breaking the threads.
He also tries to avoid flies and wasps, which can lay eggs on other animals. Hunting occurs in two ways: in the center of the web or from a nearby shelter.

The predator is not able to immediately consume food, so it quickly injects aggressive juice into the caught prey, places the prey in a cocoon and waits for the victim's insides to turn into a nutrient solution. This process takes about 1 hour, after which the spider sucks out the prey, and the cocoon remains.

Spider spider web

All the webs that spiders weave are no different from one another, since the ability to weave a web is inherent in these predators. genetic level. Only females are engaged in weaving such beautiful, intricate patterns.

Did you know? In microbiology, the web is used as the thinnest optical fiber to identify the composition of the air located in the atmosphere.

The web has strictly 39 radii and 1245 points of their attachment to the spiral, which, in turn, consists of 35 turns. The threads that make up the web are light, but at the same time they are very strong - they are used by the inhabitants of the tropics for weaving nets and fishing gear. In addition, the threads are very elastic.
In the process of arranging her creation, the female uses two types of threads. The base and radii are woven from dry fibers of a strong structure without a sticky coating and stretched between the branches.

Then the spider begins to weave the threads, which are located from the center to the edges, and the spiral thread, which will be the basis for the trapping spiral. After the work done, the spider lays a web with an adhesive base from the center of her creation.

The spiders themselves move only along dry threads, so they do not stick to their trapping webs. It takes about one hour for the spider to weave the entire web.

poisonous or not

The venom of the brown cross contains heat-labile hemolysin, which has a negative effect on blood cells.

However, its dose is so small that it can only harm small animals. For humans, a spider bite is not dangerous, but minor discomfort may occur if you are allergic to animal bites.
At the site of the bite, there is a quickly passing minor pain and itching. To quickly relieve these symptoms, it is necessary to wash the affected area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe skin with soap and apply something cold, ice if possible, then apply an ointment to relieve inflammation.

Important! The spider never attacks first - a bite is possible with accidental contact.

Reproduction and offspring

The mating season for spiders takes place in August. During courtship, the male, in order not to become a victim, carefully approaches the edge of the web, pulls the strings with his paws and waits until the female responds in kind. Then mating occurs, after which the male dies.

The female, immediately after mating, begins to weave a cocoon, in which eggs will be placed in the future. The cocoon will stay with her for a while, and then she will hide it in a secluded place.

In autumn, a spider lays an average of 500 eggs in a cocoon, which are completely preserved in it until the onset of spring. After hatching, many small spiders die as a result of high competition and attacks from relatives.
They are faced with the acute issue of survival, and for this they need to leave the mother's cocoon as soon as possible. Spider legs are small and weak. Because of this, they move on the web, gliding under the influence of the wind like on a magic carpet.

When the wind subsides, the cobweb falls to the ground, and the spider leaves it, starting new life. If the site turns out to be successful, then with the help of its nets it will be able to catch up to 400 insects throughout the day. By the beginning of summer, the spiders are already capable of mating, and by the same time the spider that gave them life dies.

Did you know? With the help of a web, a cross can overcome about 400 km of the way.

As can be seen from all of the above, the opinion of many that all spiders with crosses on their bodies and villi are dangerous to people is erroneous. However, despite this, you should not tempt fate and try to stroke or pick up this arthropod.

The spider-cross is a representative of the most common species, which is found in almost all regions except the northern and southern latitudes. It prefers places with high humidity and is most often found in gardens, fields, among shrubs growing near water bodies, as well as in groves and forests. It can also live on the eaves of buildings and on the facades of buildings.

Characteristic

The cross-spider, or crusader, got its name from, which, as you can see in the photo, is formed from white spots. The abdomen of the arthropod is colored brown and has a teardrop shape. The cross has 8 legs, on which supersensitive organs of smell are located. There are 8 eyes on the head, they are directed in different directions, which makes the view as wide as possible.

This is interesting! Cross spiders have very poor eyesight - they see only blurry outlines of objects. To know and interact with outside world they are assisted by the sense organs on their paws!

The male cross spider looks the same as the female. The only difference is the sizes. So, females are somewhat larger than males and their sizes can be from 16 to 25 mm, the body size of a male is about 10-11 mm. Throughout their lives, these arthropods molt several times, and this happens at regular intervals.

Nutrition

Crosses are hunters who are most active at twilight and at night. During the day, they prefer to sit in secluded places. Their diet contains:

  • flies;
  • butterflies;
  • mosquitoes;
  • vile, etc.

During the hunt, the crusader spider is located in the center of its web and freezes. From the outside, it looks like he's dead. But as soon as the victim gets into the net, the hunter reacts with lightning speed. He quickly runs up to the entangled insect, pierces his body with his sharp claws, which are located on the front pair of legs, and injects paralytic poison. After a while, the caught victim freezes. At the same time, in different situations spiders either immediately eat their prey, or leave it in reserve.

On a note! The fact that someone is in the web, the spider learns with the help of its paws - the victim moves, trying to get out, and creates a vibration that the cross feels!

The cross-spider eats quite a lot - the total amount of food absorbed per day is approximately equal to mass his body. And at one time he is able to eat about a dozen insects. For this reason, he spends almost all his time hunting, constantly being in the web and waiting for the next victim. A small part of the day is allotted for rest, but even during this period, the signal thread is necessarily tied to one of the hunter's legs.

On a note! Not all insects are included in the diet of the spider-cross. If a victim with an unpleasant odor, someone poisonous or too large gets into the web, then the hunter prefers in this case to let the unwanted guest go. He bites through the restraining threads and lets go!

reproduction

Young males during the spring and summer are mainly engaged in weaving webs and hunting, trying to provide themselves with normal food. Closer to the mating season, they leave their shelters and move from place to place in search of a female. At this time, they eat extremely poorly, which explains the significant difference in mass between them and spiders.

After the male finds the female's web, he makes several attempts to inform her of his appearance - he carefully steps on the edge, causing vibrations. The female immediately takes off and tries to catch up with the male, thinking that this is another victim. And the male, in turn, flees along his thread, which he prudently lowers down in advance. This continues until the spider understands who exactly came to visit her.

Immediately after mating, the spider tries to hide faster. However, it is possible for units - the most agile. Most die from the poison of the female. This period falls approximately at the end of summer or the beginning of autumn.

The fertilized female lays eggs. Eggs, of which there can be about 300-800 pieces, she places in a cocoon tightly woven from cobwebs and wears it for some time. Then the spider finds a suitable hiding place, where she leaves the clutch. Often, such a place becomes the bark of a tree lagging behind the trunk, cracks in the wood, fallen leaves, etc. The eggs are stored there until spring. At the same time, in the cocoon, the future offspring is in absolute safety - it is warm in it and it does not get wet.

With the onset of heat, small spiders appear from the eggs.

After the birth, young crosses need enough food, but the territory where they first saw the world is not always able to feed them. Therefore, it is important for spiders to leave this densely populated area as soon as possible, otherwise many of them risk being eaten by their own brethren or simply die of hunger. However, these arthropods are not capable of moving independently over a long distance, since their legs are very poorly developed. Often they are carried by a fair wind - the spider waits for windy weather, clings to its web and thus flies from place to place.

This is interesting! The web helps the cross spider to overcome very impressive distances - sometimes about 400 km!

Given the above, it is easy to calculate how long the cross spider lives. In the spring, the young come out of the eggs, and in the fall they already mate. Males in most cases die immediately after they fertilize the female, and spiders a little later - they spend several weeks near the hidden cocoon and, having fulfilled their parental duty, die before winter comes. It turns out that not so much is allotted to the cross by nature - only 6-8 months.

Toxicity

Is the cross spider dangerous for humans? Its poison is toxic to us, and after about five minutes after the bite, the following unpleasant symptoms can be felt:

  • severe headache;
  • slight increase in body temperature;
  • slight weakness;
  • discomfort in the joints;
  • itching and tingling at the site of the bite;
  • subcutaneous hemorrhages are possible.

On a note! Often, after a bite, only a local reaction occurs, which manifests itself in the form of a reddened and somewhat hardened edema. But sometimes the consequences can be more serious. In this case, it depends on the immune abilities of the human body!

The bite of a cross spider is not fatal, however, despite this, it is advisable to avoid contact with it. If he did bite you, then, first of all, the affected area should be thoroughly washed with soap, which will help prevent additional infection. Next, something very cold should be applied to the bite site, ice if possible, and treated with an anti-inflammatory ointment.

Important! If a cross spider has bitten a child, then calling an ambulance is mandatory!

In order to avoid contact with the cross spider while relaxing in nature, it is imperative to close the tent at night, and if it has windows, then mosquito nets must be placed on them. In the evening, be sure to inspect your bed, and it is advisable to take out all the blankets and blankets and shake them well. When walking through the forest, always bypass the woven cobwebs, and if you notice a cross very close, then in no case take it in your hands.

Similar rules apply to staying at a tourist base and even in the country. Upon arrival, all rooms should be inspected for the presence of a symmetrical web, and if one is found, then it must be carefully removed immediately with some long object. In this case, it is advisable to protect your hands with gloves.

The spider-cross belongs to the family of orbs. They live in almost every country, except for the southern and northern latitudes. This type is the most common. There are 2000 species of this spider in the world, about 10 species live in Russia. Most often, this insect can be found in the Republic of Mordovia, Astrakhan, Smolensk and Rostov regions.

Favorite places of the insect: fields, gardens, shrubs near water bodies, groves, forests, in very rare cases they live on the facades of walls and cornices of buildings. Mostly crosses choose places with very high humidity.

The crowns of trees in neglected gardens or impenetrable forests have become a favorite place for the cross-spider. It is possible to determine that this spider lives here by the wheel-shaped web. Considering that the web itself is destroyed under the influence of other insects, wind, trees, people, they are forced to dissolve it every two days and weave it again.

Appearance of the insect

Because of the peculiar cross on the back, the spider got its name - the cross. The cross itself is formed from white and light brown spots. The belly of the creature is round, brown. On the body there are 4 pairs of legs, which are distinguished by hypersensitivity, and 4 pairs of eyes, directed in different directions. Insect eyes allow you to see the world from all sides. Interesting detail: spiders have blurry vision, they see only the outlines of objects or their shadows.

Females are almost twice as large as males. For comparison: the size of females varies between 17-26 centimeters, and males - 10-11 cm. After certain periods, cross-spiders molt and shed their chitinous cover. This period is characterized by active growth.

The special activity of insects is noted at night, during the day they hide in their shelters. At night they weave webs. During the day, females can also become more active.. It can be hunting for flies, butterflies. The unique creature freezes in one position, which at first glance gives the impression that he is dead, but this is a trick for the victim.

The external structure of the cross-spider

Spiders have 8 legs, with very sensitive olfactory organs. Their abdomen is rounded, resembling a droplet. On the abdomen are spots that form the shape of a cross. There are 4 pairs of eyes on the head, which make it possible to provide a wide view. Spider-spider poisonous hunter Therefore, vision for him is a matter of life and death.

What do amazing insects eat?

This species is carnivorous. For food they need aphids, flies, mosquitoes, midges. Spiders wait for their potential prey in the middle of the web. to which the signal thread is attached. As soon as the insect flies up to the web and gets into it, then trying to get out, they create a vibration of the web, so the cross in the center receives a signal about a potential victim. Considering that there are olfactory organs on the legs of cross-spiders, they can also hear the victim with their paws.

After receiving the signal, the insect approaches the victim and, with the help of a bite, injects poison into the body - chelicera. Some crosses immediately eat the victim, while others leave food in reserve. They twist the victim into a web and hide it from prying eyes in the foliage.

These insects eat a lot. For a day, they need an amount of food equal in weight to their own. Almost always the spider-cross is on duty, he hunts. During the day, only a small amount of time he devotes to rest, while the signal thread remains tied to the leg.

Spiders do not eat insects that are too large for them or poisonous. Such they throw out of the web, breaking it. Dangerous for these creatures are wasps and flies that leave their larvae on the body of another animal. If such a fly or wasp leaves its larvae on the spider, then they themselves will begin to eat it and develop.

The main differences of the mysterious creature

These spiders belong to the species of dioecious animals. When mating took place, the male dies, and the female is actively preparing the cocoon for future offspring. Most often, small spider eggs appear in the fall. At first, the woven cocoon is on the back of the female, and then she carries it to a secluded and safe place. These can be cracks or small holes in the bark of a tree. New offspring emerge from the cocoon in the spring. They become young individuals ready for mating by the end of summer, and then the old female dies.

Males at the beginning of their lives actively weave a web to provide themselves with food. But as soon as the mating period comes, they are nomadic, in search of a female. They eat little, and this affects their difference in weight with the female.

When a spider finds a female, he carefully approaches her web, and be sure to weave his thread in case of retreat. Females may perceive a potential groom as their victim and lunch. Then the male pulls the web very carefully and as soon as it reacts and throws it at the prey, he runs away along his woven web.

Such games can last for several minutes, until the female realizes that her groom has come. Next, mating takes place, and here the male needs to be on the alert. As soon as the process has taken place, the female becomes a hunter again, and the male can become her victim. Therefore, he has to quickly run away after the end of mating.

How spiders reproduce

From 300 to 800 eggs are placed in a cocoon prepared in advance. They have an interesting amber color. Since the cocoon has rather thick walls, future spiderlings are not afraid of either frost or water. Thus, the eggs are stored until spring, and with the onset of heat, young offspring are born. Some time young spiders sit in a cocoon. It has to do with ignorance environment, and their fear of learning new things, but over time they all leave the shelter and begin an independent life.

Given that the offspring of insects is very large, there is a natural competition for the right to life. Some young spiders get caught in their relatives' nets and are eaten., and some cannot get food and also die. Therefore, the farther a young spider goes from its cocoon, the the best environment he will hit and get more chances to survive and develop.

The individuals in question perform all movements only thanks to their web, this is due to the fact that their legs are very weak. They also travel with the help of a tailwind. Interesting fact: on its web, a cross spider can fly up to 400 kilometers.

X-bit bite for a human

The spider-cross bites and lets its poison in not only in insects, but also in humans. Most often this occurs in the case of direct contact between an individual and human hand. It is worth knowing some rules to avoid unpleasant contact with this poisonous spider:

If you are bitten by a crusader spider, the following symptoms will appear within 5 minutes:

  • Headache;
  • General weakness;
  • Aches in the joints, pain throughout the body;
  • The bite site begins to itch and tingle;
  • Subcutaneous hemorrhages may be observed.

For a person, the bite of a poisonous cross-spider is not fatal, but first aid should not be neglected. You should do the following manipulations:

  1. The bite site is washed with soap and water. To avoid additional infection;
  2. If possible, ice, or any other cold object, is applied to the bite site;
  3. If you felt headache or a slight increase in temperature, then you can take regular paracetamol;
  4. If you are allergic, then drink any antihistamines to avoid a possible aggravation;
  5. In the case of a bite of a spider-cross fell on a child, you should not wait for the reaction of the body, seek help from a doctor.

The benefits of a cross spider for humans

Although spiders can inject venom into human body and pose a danger, their web has beneficial features and can be used in various fields.

The web has an excellent antibacterial effect, so it can be used to disinfect wounds.

IN optical instruments, where super-accuracy in calculations is needed, use the web of this spider.

Microbiologists have made a discovery and developed a unique air analyzer based on the crusader's web. Exactly the web captures all microparticles, which are in the air, and the composition of the air is determined from them.

Cross spiders are unique animals that can be useful to mankind.

Cross spiders are a genus of the class of arachnids with about 2 thousand species. They are widespread and are typical representatives of their class.

Crosses live in forests, gardens, meadows. Weave a web between branches, on buildings, etc. They feed on small insects.

The size of representatives of cross-spiders is from 1.5 to 4 cm in females and about 1 cm in males.

The chitinous cuticle of cross spiders is quite thin. The body is subdivided into a small, slightly elongated, non-segmented cephalothorax and a large, in comparison with it, non-segmented, rounded abdomen. A lighter pattern in the form of a cross is formed on top of the abdomen. Hence the name of these spiders.

There are four pairs of walking legs on the cephalothorax. In front of them are chelicerae (jaws) and pedipalps (mandibles). With the help of the first, the cross-spider kills the victim. Their terminal segments are transformed into claws, in which ducts of poisonous glands open. The poison has a paralyzing effect. Pedipalps are used to hold the victim, turn it over, and they also have many organs of touch.

At the end of the abdomen there are six arachnoid warts (three pairs). They open the ducts of the spider glands, which can be about 1000. Cross spiders secrete different kinds cobwebs. Some are sticky, others are more durable. When released, the web hardens in air, turning into a fairly strong thread. Spiders weave trapping nets, shelters, cocoons from the web, bind the victim with it. The trapping web of the spider-cross consists of a strong polygonal base and radial supports and sticky concentric circles. From the central part of the network, a thread departs to the spider's shelter. The oscillations of the web when the victim hits it are transmitted along this thread to the spider, and it crawls out of the shelter.

The spider-cross injects into the victim not only poison, but also digestive juices, which break down its tissues, turning it into a liquid slurry. Extraintestinal digestion lasts about an hour. The spider can only eat liquid food, which is completely digested inside it. digestive system. The suction of food occurs due to the muscular pharynx. There is a stomach, a branched midgut, into which the ducts of the liver open. This is where absorption takes place. nutrients into the hemolymph (arthropod blood mixed with lymph). Undigested residues go into the hindgut and are excreted through the anus.

The circulatory system is characteristic of all arthropods: open. On the dorsal side of the abdomen there is a tubular heart. From the heart, the hemolymph is pushed through the vessels to the front of the body, then it pours into the spaces between the organs and flows in the abdominal direction, where it is enriched with oxygen. After that, the hemolymph is again collected in the vessels and sent to the heart.

The respiratory system of the spider-cross consists of a pair lung sacs and trachea. The lungs are located in the anterior part of the abdomen, contain many leaf-like folds, in which a lot of hemolymph flows. Tracheas are thin bundles of tubes that run through the body. They do not need hemolymph as an intermediary for the transfer of oxygen.

In cross-spiders, the excretory organs are represented by malpighian vessels, whose ducts open into the extension of the hindgut (cloaca), and coxal glands, the ducts of which open at the base of the first pair of walking legs.

In the ventral nerve chain in cross-spiders, the ventral ganglia merge. There are 8 simple eyes, which, like all arachnids, see poorly. The organs of touch, represented by sensitive hairs, are well developed. There are organs of smell and chemical sense.

Spider-spiders have pronounced sexual dimorphism. Females are larger and kill males after fertilization. The sex glands are paired, their common duct opens on the abdomen. The male delivers his sexual products to the female with the help of pedipalps. After fertilization, the female spins a cocoon using a soft silky web. Then it lays eggs in a cocoon, in which small spiders develop, i.e., the development of cross-spiders is direct.