Australia: World’s Oldest Spider, a Trapdoor Spider Named Number 16, Dies at 43
TAMMIN, AUSTRALIA – A trapdoor spider residing in North Bungulla Reserve near Tammin, south-western Australia, has died at the remarkable age of 43, making her the longest-lived spider ever recorded. The spider, known as Number 16 – designated as such because she was the 16th spiderling identified with a peg during a long-term population study initiated in 1974 – succumbed to parasitization by a wasp on Halloween 2016.
The study, led by Barbara York Main, monitored the spiders annually for decades, providing crucial conservation insights and ultimately revealing Number 16’s extraordinary longevity. She surpassed the previous record holder by 15 years, with the former champion living to 28.
Researchers determined Number 16 didn’t die of old age, but was killed after a parasitic wasp laid eggs inside her, with the resulting larvae consuming her from within – a fate common for large spiders.
Beyond her record-breaking lifespan, the authors of a recent paper detailing her life suggest Number 16 offers “lessons for humanity and sustainable living.” having spent her entire life in a single burrow, maintaining it and taking only what she needed from the habitat, she embodies a low-impact lifestyle.
“We suggest that the life-styles of short-range endemics provide lessons for humanity and sustainable living in old stable landscapes,” the authors wrote. “As we begin rebuilding with more sustainable technologies and improve the management of known threatening processes, we can be inspired by an ancient mygalomorph spider and the rich biodiversity she embodied.”
Number 16 was a Gauis villosus spider. The research detailing her life is available on ResearchGate.
