What kinds of spiders can you find in the Ivory Coast?

Many people are terrified of spiders and find them extremely creepy. This is unfortunate because not only are most spiders completely harmless, they benefit our environment by controlling the insect population. In fact, without spiders, our food supply would be in serious jeopardy.

Before we begin, I want you to know that the list below is just a fraction of the spiders in the Ivory Coast. Because of the sheer number of these arachnids, it would be impossible to cover them all. For example, some estimates claim over 50,000 kinds of spiders on the planet (and the list is still growing)!

In today’s article, I did my best to develop a list of spiders you’re most likely to see.

2 common SPIDERS in the Ivory Coast!

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#1. Hairy Golden Orb-weaving Spider

• Trichonephila fenestrata

Also known as the Tufted Golden Orb-weaving spider.

Identifying Characteristics:

• Their coloring is predominantly yellow with black patterns.
• The legs are dark brown or black with hairy middle parts (brushes).
• Females are 20-40 mm (0.8-1.5 in). Males are 5-6 mm (0.19-0.23 in).

Look for this spider in the Ivory Coast in wooded areas where they can make their web and catch prey easily.

Hairy Golden Orb-weaving Spiders makes elaborate flat webs of concentric circles and spokes from the center. Their webs can reach up to 1 meter (3 feet) in diameter. The silk has a yellowish color, which serves two functions: in the sun, bees are attracted to the color, and in the shade, it blends in with the surrounding vegetation.

Male Hairy Golden Orb-weaving Spiders have an unusual tactic to survive mating, which is typically dangerous for spiders. During mating, the male sacrifices one of its front legs as a snack for the female. This behavior increases the chances of successful mating while decreasing the chances of the male being eaten by the female. And you think dating is hard for humans!

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#2. Pink Crab Spider

• Thomisus onustus

Identifying Characteristics:

• Females measure 7–11 mm (0.27-0.43 in). Males are much smaller and range between lengths of 2–4 mm (0.07-0.15 in).

• Females are pink, yellow, or white. Males are brown to green-yellow.

• Both sexes have a triangular-shaped bodies.

The best places to find Pink Crab Spiders in the Ivory Coast are on flowers or other vegetation that is low to the ground.

Pink Crab Spiders don’t use webs to catch their prey. Instead, they sit and wait inside flowers for something to eat. Once a suitable victim comes by, they use their long forelegs to ambush it and make the kill. When insects are in short supply, such as during bad weather, they eat pollen and nectar to avoid starvation.

Lastly, they have developed a mutualistic relationship with certain plant species as these spiders feed on and help deter harmful insects. Some plants even release an emission after being attacked that attracts Pink Crab Spiders hoping they feed on the intruder(s).