The female is Goliath to his David: around 125 times his mass, and armed with giant fangs that deliver a potent venom. To seduce her, the male must gingerly traverse her enormous web – a succession of tripwires designed to sense the slightest vibration – then clamber on board her gargantuan body and copulate, all without triggering her hairpin attacking instinct. His chances of running this sexual gauntlet with life and limb intact are slim at best.For the male golden orb weaver spider sexual disappointment takes the form of a grisly death, his would-be lover literally sucking the life out of
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