Only a few stags, and no female are known to science.

Up to five females have been known to mate with one male in a season.

While usually carried out by a ruling male, prominent females are also known to have performed the act.

The typical female is known to lay around 4500 eggs inside its cap.

Only one pregnant female is known to have been caught; she was carrying six unborn young.

The mother may object and females have even been known to kill the complete litter in consequence.

However, females are known to have a second litter if their first is unsuccessful.

In captivity, females have been known to adopt the young of others.

However, there are other spider species of similar size where only the female is known.

The females have been known since ancient times while the males were only described in the late 19th Century.