Question

Parental care in wolf spiders consists of ________.

1) Building a nest for the eggs
2) Guarding the eggs until they hatch
3) Feeding the young spiders
4) All of the above

Answer 1

Parental care in wolf spiders consists of guarding the eggs until they hatch. Wolf spiders carry the egg sacs, and after hatching, carry the spiderlings on their abdomen, but do not build a nest or feed their young directly.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question of what parental care in wolf spiders consists of can be understood by looking at various forms of parental care in the animal kingdom. Parental care increases the survival chances of offspring by providing shelter, food, and protection. Looking at arachnids, parental care differs widely among species, from none to relatively prolonged care. Wolf spiders, in particular, do not build nests for their eggs, but they do exhibit some parental care behaviors. Wolf spiders carry their egg sacs attached to their spinnerets, which ensures that the eggs are guarded until they hatch. After hatching, the spiderlings climb onto the mother's abdomen and she continues to carry them until they are large enough to disperse and fend for themselves. This behavior is a form of protection and care unique to wolf spiders, though they do not feed their young as is common with some birds and mammals.