Katipo Spiders Hatch In Jar

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29716, 9 January 1962, Page 13

Katipo Spiders Hatch In Jar

A katipo spider caught at a bach in Pine avenue, New Brighton. 10 days ago, now ha* the company of dozens of small katipos, hatched from eggs found in three balls beside the spider. The photograph shows the large spider in the screw-top jar in which it has been kept by Mrs J. R. Craig, of 146 Edinburgh street. Christchurch. The large spider has

spun a web and the small spiders move along the threads. Mrs Craig found the spider and the eggs under a piece of wood lying near the back door. She said the spider stuck the three balls of eggs, each about the size of a small marble, on to the top of the jar. They hatched three days later. The jar has not been opened since 4h* spider and eggs were put inside and all the

spiders are still living, Mrs Craig said the spiders were dormant for most of the day, but active under electric light at night. The assistant-director of the Canterbury Museum (Mr E. G. Turbott) said the newlyhatched spiders would be able to live for some time without food. He thought there would be enough air in the bottle for the spiders, but that- they would eventually die without food.