Can You Drink Spider Milk?
WouterThere is a milk-like fluid produced by some spiders and some birds. However, the fluid is not marketed as milk.
A research team at the Chinese Academy of Sciences reported on a study of a jumping spider species. They found that the creature produced a liquid that was four times as nutritious as cow’s milk.
While this is not the first time a spider has produced milk, this particular form of liquid is quite a feat. The fluid looks and acts just like human milk.
The milk-like substance is produced by a specific organ in the spider. It is deposited by the mother onto the surface of her nest and ingested by the young. The fluid contains a lot of proteins, fats and other ingredients.
Scientists were surprised to find that spiders produce a liquid similar to mammalian lactation. Until now, only mammals had shown such milk production. The researchers believe the process evolved from unfertilised eggs.
The milk-like fluid is supplied to the offspring from birth to subadult ages. A spider’s offspring are more likely to survive to adulthood when their mothers remain in the nest.
When the mothers were removed, the spiderlings grew more slowly. They spent more time foraging for food and were less likely to survive. The offspring still took advantage of the mothers’ milk after they were mature enough to forage on their own.
The study is the first of its kind. The researchers have also painted the spiders to prevent the fluid from reaching their offspring.
