Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-02-02
CARRIES AIR WITH HIM.
The Water Spider and the Peculiar
Manner il Which He Is Equipped.

The Water Spider and the Peculiar
Manner il Which He Is Equipped.
If you wish to begin the study of
spiders, and very fascinating study
Il Is. the most suitable time for nearly
MI varieties is in summer. But there
is one kind that may be observed in
winter just as we'll, says the st. Louis
Globe Democrat, and that is the water
or diving spider, as he is called in
English, or, in scientific language,
Argvroneta aquatica. You may pro-
cure as many specimens as you like
from any large dealer in aquarium sup
plies. put them i'll Il tank or globe,
and watch their doingS as you do
those Of the goldfiSh-Only don't put
! the two together, for by so doing you
! will only be Offering Il dainty repaSt
! for the tinny beauties. The top of
! the tank must also be covered with
! wire gauZe or mosquito netting, other
| wise the spiders will get out and away.
! The water spider is a curious dark
! colored fellow, freqlenting ponds and
/ running streams, and remarkable for
! his habit of plunging and living under
! the surface He differs in this respect
| from all the other members Of his
/ tribe. How does he get air enough
! to breathe, do you ask? He carries
/ il with him! Remarkable as this may
seem, it is strictly true.
The abdomen is covered with numer-
olIs long tilaments, which not only
keep the body from getting wet, but
/ also, when under water, incloSe large
! bubble of air, which has the appear
&nce Of 4 silver pellicle, and Suf1ices
! for the purposes of respiration for an
/ indefinite period. Thus supplied with
/ the material for breathing, the spiders
live principally under water. but come
ont to change their skins, and 1T times,
also. to chase terrestrial insects, which
they drMg beneath the surface as
soon rs caught. The most wonderful
thing connected with the spider is
the way he builds his nest under
water, for csidence or for the DISPOSE
ton of eggs. The nest is filled with
air. but to procure it neither the div
ing bell nor the pump is nceded-the
spider is supplied by nature with all
the apparatus required. Attaching the
end Of his thread to a leaf or stalk
at the bottom, he spins it out behind
him and quickly arrives at the sur
face of the water, head downward,
and with the point of his abdomen eN-
posed TO the exterior air. The long
filaments are now expanded, and con-
tracing quickly as he sinks again,
they inclose Il small bubble of air,
which is retained in rounded form,
independent of the bubble which COW
erS the rest of the abdomen. Turning
over and swimming toward the plant
to which the nest is to be attached,
the spider touches the little bubble
In such manner as to make it leave
his body and cling to its new resting
place. Then he mounts again, and
continues the operation until he has
mass Of bubbles clinginE together,
when he spins 4 web around them.
by means of which the separate bub-
hles are brought together so as to form
L single one of sufficient size to con-
tain his body. Snugly ensconced in
this little balloon the spiler eats and
tAA lHH' SStlihS, lis Jap VI lOuS
mCuts at the door for the capture of
any unwary insect that may come
known to be built in 2 single night
Occasionally strange spider will
come sailing along, and jealous. per-
along. Such a residence has been
hapS, of 4 house trifle better con-
structed than his own, win attack
it ticrcely, tearing aside the outside
covering and allowing the air to es-
cape
Another peculiarly about the water
spider is that the female is much
larger than the male. She sometimes
takes advantage of this, and. rushing
at her lord and master. devours him
on the spot But when a good I'M
Outstanding exists the male will fire.
quently build his nest close to that of
his spouse, with a tube or channel be-
| tween. through which visits will be
male. The eggs are deposited in
nest larger than the residence. and
netted with stronger threads. The top
IS covered with a substance looking
like cotton wadding. When the young
spiders are able to leave the nest IN
! which they were Matched each one is
provided with his own little air bub-
BILE.