Blood Spiders

Full Description
They are a dark brown rust color, nearly the color of dried blood and have a body that is approximately 5’ wide, not including their legs. They are covered in short dark hair and enjoy grooming themselves to stay clean. This has been observed to be a mating oriented function as only mates will groom each other. No outside spider has been known to touch another in such a maternal state. Even offspring are rarely groomed by their parents after they mature.

Society
The Blood Spider is normally a solitary animal, preferring the company of it’s victims then it’s own kind. They will usually live away from the bustle of humanity where they will not be disturbed and hunt on large animals for food. Only during mating season will they gather together, the males fighting for dominance over the females for rights to mate. Those who win, mate with the females and leave them to their own ends.

The females do not lay eggs often. Once every five to six years will a female become fertile and lay her eggs. These watermellow sized eggs are dry and dusted with a fine white powder that causes pain and numbness if touched bare handed. This effect lasts for a few hours and fades will no ill side effects. The female can only lay about five to eight eggs, with a mature ratio of only about one to two surviving. Because of this limited number of offspring it has kept the population down considerably.

Home
They tend to live in tight fitting hollows that they dig in the ground. These hollows are usually under boulders or old trees where there is ample seclusion and protection. While it leaves ample room for animals and intruders to wander in, they are more than capable of protecting themselves even in the tight confines of their hollows.

One thing that is different with these spiders, other than size, is the lack of spider silk. They do not produce it and therefore can not spin webbing. Some have thought that because of their size they can not produce this spider silk while others believe it is because of the venom that they produce. The sacks that normally produce silk were replaced with those that produce their venom. Regardless, because of this there is no visible warning on entering into a den of a blood spider. Not even a smell from their victims as they devour ever drop of liquid inside the bodies leaving no death smell.

Resources
They will normally attack their prey by surprise, knocking them to the ground with their two front legs and then stinging them with a small protrusion that extends from their mouth. This stinger has a fast acting venom, that when it is injected into their victim they begin to go numb.

Because of their size few will be found among the boughs of trees, but in some areas where the ancient trunks are thick and strong, they have been known to drop from on high and pounce on their victims. Using size and poison to efficiently harvest food.

Vision will go first, then motor skills, until they can no longer move. This stinger leaves a very small and unnoticeable mark when they puncture the skin. It is not a deadly toxin and rarely will kill, however it gives them the oportunity to feed on their victim at their leisure. Once stung and unable to fight, the spider then haul them back to their lair, where they inject a small protubance into the victim and drain their blood.

The venom can be harvested up to three hours after the Blood Spider has died. This venom has been known to be used by countless assassins as well as for medical purposes.