Medical-significance

Guides

• Amaurobius ferox

  black lace-weaver, black lace weaver

  Amaurobius ferox is a nocturnal spider known for its distinctive cribellate web with woolly, lace-like silk. The species exhibits a unique subsocial organization among spiderlings, including synchronized molting, cooperative prey capture, and matriphagy—where offspring consume their mother after hatching. Native to Europe, it has been introduced to North America and is commonly found near human structures in dark, moist environments.

  subsocialmatriphagycribellate-webnocturnalsynanthropiccave-entrance-speciessynchronized-moltingtrophic-eggsEuropeintroduced-speciesNorth-Americamaternal-carespiderling-cooperationmedical-significanceminor-envenomation