vulva aranea

Vulva aranea, the female spider, lives in temperate zones and forests in Central Europe. Like all spiders, it has four pairs of legs and on the back of its opisthosoma is a gland that is very reminiscent of a vulva. This is where it gets its name. The gland produces a sweet nectar containing hundreds of ferromones and aromas. Vulva aranea distributes this nectar around its orb web, thus marking its olfactory presence. It is also thought that it uses this nectar to communicate with conspecifics. The spiders are often observed in groups, sitting together on a web, touching and grooming each other. They spend a considerable amount of time cleaning and smoothing the hairs on their abdomens. Because the nectar has a very aromatic, sweet taste and is very rich in nutrients, it attracts not only conspecifics but also all kinds of creatures that can become entangled in the spider's web. However, since the web serves exclusively as a home, sleeping place, and nursery, Vulva aranea has all its arthropods busy constantly cleaning it of these intruders. Otherwise, very little is known about these unique creatures. Only that they feed primarily on maple sap, incubate up to 350 eggs per clutch, and put a lot of effort into raising their young.