The taku forests of Telkadis are home to a particularly devious predator known as the Telkadis hiding tree spider. Female Telkadian spiders use their powerful pincerlike fangs to bore deep into the sides of native taku trees in order to lay their eggs. When hatched, the young spiders consume nutrients from the pulpy taku bark, continually burrowing deeper and deeper into the tree mass as they grow. Over time, though to all outward appearances healthy, a typical taku tree may house a dozen or more spiders lying in wait for unsuspecting forest voletes (a local rodent) and other warm-blooded creatures. While few taku trees are so infected, it is difficult to discern which may host these unwelcome predators until too late. The only clue which indicates the presence of tree spiders in the area is a distinct humming sound made by male Telkadian spiders as they fertilize hidden egg pods. Hiding tree spiders are a particular nuisance to foresters and loggers, and there are documented cases of entire colonies of tree spiders attacking if their host tree is threatened.
While the tree spider's bite is not fatal, lingering after-effects can included recurring nausea, temporary loss of hearing, and a loss of equilibrium lasting for several weeks. | 
