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How does a spider grow?. Follow eggs, emerging spiderlings, juvenile molts, and adulthood. The timing and care of young vary among species.

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Protection begins with silk. Egg sacs surround developing young with silk. Some mothers guard or carry the sac; others leave it in a protected place.

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Small bodies, familiar plan. Emerging spiderlings already resemble small spiders. Some stay together briefly before dispersing; others leave sooner.

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Growth requires a molt. A growing spider sheds its old cuticle. In this photograph, distinguish the living green lynx spider from the abandoned exoskeleton.

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Maturity changes the story. Adults can reproduce. Many stop molting at maturity, while some adult females, including tarantulas, continue. There is no universal timetable.

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Make a careful observation. Describe the sac, clustered young, or shed cuticle you can see. A still photograph cannot establish an individual's exact age.