Analysis Of The Parasitic Pompilid: The Golden Wheel Spider
The golden wheel spider is most noted for its unique escape tactic of “cartwheeling” away from predators. It turns on its side and curls into a ball, allowing it to roll down sand dunes with speeds up to 44 turns (or 3 feet traveled) per second. This ability is normally used to make a high-speed escape from its main predator, the parasitic Pompilid wasp.
Golden wheel spiders also build silk-lined burrows to protect themselves from predators. These burrows can extend from 40 to 50 centimeters deep and often help its occupant safely wait until the arrival of night, which is the preferred time for the spider to hunt. While digging a burrow, a golden wheel spider can lift over 2 gallons of sand, nearly 80,000 times its own
weight.
Golden wheel spiders also build silk-lined burrows to protect themselves from predators. These burrows can extend from 40 to 50 centimeters deep and often help its occupant safely wait until the arrival of night, which is the preferred time for the spider to hunt. While digging a burrow, a golden wheel spider can lift over 2 gallons of sand, nearly 80,000 times its own
weight.