Matriphagy

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Matriphagy is the consumption of the mother by her offspring. The behavior generally takes place within the first few weeks of life and has been documented in some species of insects, nematode worms, pseudoscorpions, and other arachnids as well as in caecilian amphibians. The specifics of how matriphagy occurs varies among different species. However, the process is best-described in the desert spider (Stegodyphus lineatus), where the mother harbors nutritional resources for her young through food consumption. The mother can regurgitate small portions of food for her growing offspring, but between 1–2 weeks after hatching, the progeny capitalize on this food source by eating her alive. Typically, offspring only feed on their biological mother as opposed to other females in the population. In other arachnid species, matriphagy occurs after the ingestion of nutritional eggs known as trophic eggs (e.g. Black lace-weaver Amaurobius ferox, crab spider Australomisidia ergandros). It involves different...

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