King Spiders were similar to but unlike the Giant Spiders of Mirkwood. They did not build large webs but rather dug deep pits, 2-3 ft wide and 8-10 ft deep. A King Spider capped this pit with a lid cleverly woven from a small amount of spider-silk, disguising the covering with leaves and other vegetation so that it was extremely hard to detect. Victims falling through the lid received attacks from the strong, knife-like silk tendrils. The pits were usually built on slopes. They supported no more than 40 pounds of weight.
The King Spider, who had been waiting in a small side passage, leaped upon the victim and biled it, injecting its special poison, Kennesank. If the victim died, the spider would eat it. If not, the thrifty spider saved the meal. If it was a female who had recently mated, she might lay 6-12 eggs on top of the helpless prey and leave, sealing the hole more sturdily behind her. In two days, when the spiderlings hatched, they would spend three weeks living on the food left behind by their mother.
References[]
- Retrieved from Realms of Arda; original reference: [ICE MERP 2012]