Charlotte's Web - EGG SACS And BABY SPIDERS - AwesomeStories

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Facebook Twitter Charlotte's Web - EGG SACS and BABY SPIDERS
  • Table of Contents
    • 0. STORY PREFACE
    • 1. THE REAL ZUCKERMAN FARM
    • 2. WHO IS CHARLOTTE?
    • 3. MAKING SILK THREADS
    • 4. SPINNING A WEB
    • 5. WEBS in the MORNING DEW
    • 6. HOW DOES CHARLOTTE EAT?
    • 7. EGG SACS and BABY SPIDERS
    • 8. BALLOONING SPIDERS
    • 9. WILBUR and the FARM
    • 10. THE STORY OF CHARLOTTE'S WEB
Page 7 of 10 Go back to prior chapter Back Go to next chapter Next Chapter EGG SACS and BABY SPIDERS (Illustration) Awesome Radio - Narrated Stories Geography STEM Fiction Film

In this image we see a house-spider egg sac and its recently hatched spiderlings (who are about three days old and the size of a pepper grain). Although Charlotte isn’t a house spider, she also produces an egg sac containing hundreds of eggs. Photo by Richhoyer99; online via Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY-SA 3.0

Female spiders lay their eggs inside an egg sac which looks like a cocoon. It depends on the species, but there could be hundreds of eggs. The egg sac, like a spider's web, is made of silken thread.

Some females carry their sacs - in their jaws or on their spinnerets - until the eggs hatch. Other species hide their egg sacs under a rock, attach them to a plant stalk or encase them in the web. When the spiderlings (baby spiders) hatch, they are usually on their own.

Let's examine the egg sacs of a few spiders:

  • A mother guards her egg sac.
  • This South African spider is carrying an egg sac.
  • Another female spider, from South Africa, sits on her nest.
  • Some spiderlings ride on their mother's back after they hatch.
  • Other spiderlings must stay in a web one week after hatching.

As part of the life cycle of some spider-species, the mother dies after she lays her eggs. When the eggs hatch, the spiderlings will be able to make their way in the world.

Although they do not have wings, the baby spiders will "fly" to different locations by "ballooning" on lines of gossamer silk.

  • Table of Contents
    • 0. STORY PREFACE
    • 1. THE REAL ZUCKERMAN FARM
    • 2. WHO IS CHARLOTTE?
    • 3. MAKING SILK THREADS
    • 4. SPINNING A WEB
    • 5. WEBS in the MORNING DEW
    • 6. HOW DOES CHARLOTTE EAT?
    • 7. EGG SACS and BABY SPIDERS
    • 8. BALLOONING SPIDERS
    • 9. WILBUR and the FARM
    • 10. THE STORY OF CHARLOTTE'S WEB
Page 7 of 10 Go back to prior chapter Back Go to next chapter Next Chapter 0 Question or Comment?click to read or comment 2 Questions 2 Ponderclick to read and respond 0 It's Awesome!vote for your favorite Author: Carole D. Bos, J.D. 5199stories and lessons created Awesome Stories 21st Century Guide to Research and Content Rights

Original Release: Dec 01, 2006

Updated Last Revision: Aug 15, 2014

To cite this story (For MLA citation guidance see easybib or OWL ):

"EGG SACS and BABY SPIDERS" AwesomeStories.com. Dec 01, 2006. Jan 21, 2026. <http://www.awesomestories.com/asset/view/EGG-SACS-and-BABY-SPIDERS-Charlotte-s-Web>. Share This This is Awesome! Listen to Narration AwesomePrint Academic Alignments Assignments Learning Tasks Questions to Ponder ? Media Stream
  • Spider - Laying Her Eggs Spider - Laying Her Eggs
  • Spider Egg Sac Spider Egg Sac
  • Protective Spider Guarding her Egg Sac Protective Spider Guarding her Egg Sac
  • Carrying the Egg Sac Carrying the Egg Sac
  • Female Spider Sits on her Cocoon Female Spider Sits on her Cocoon
  • Spiderlings Enjoying the Ride Spiderlings Enjoying the Ride
  • Spiderlings One Week After Hatching Spiderlings One Week After Hatching
  • Spiderlings \ Spiderlings "Fly"

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