Do Spiders Eat Smaller Spiders?
WouterSpiders are known to eat other spiders and insects, but there are also species that eat their own webs. Some of these spiders recycle the amino acids found in silk proteins when they take down damaged webs.
Some spiders can live for up to 30 days without food. However, most are opportunistic feeders, eating whatever is available. They have been known to eat wasps, butterflies, flies, and other insects. Besides eating insects, some spiders eat dead arthropods and seeds.
Depending on the species, a spider may eat several times a day. Some may eat as many as four times a day. The larger a spider is, the more energy it needs to survive.
Larger species of spiders usually eat birds, small lizards, and other animals. They may also feed on young liquified foods. Some spiders, like the Daddy long-legs spider, have been known to cannibalize their own species.
Huntsman spiders, on the other hand, primarily eat large house spiders. Some smaller species of spiders, on the other hand, eat small insects. In the case of the Goliath bird-eating spider, it will eat snakes, worms, and frogs.
Orbweaving spiders, on the other hand, suckulate and digest their prey, leaving behind a hollow spidershell that contains the digested prey. The prey remains attached to the spider’s web until it dies.
Other species of spiders, like the wolf spider, have been known to kill their own prey in order to protect their young. They may also eat other spiders to keep themselves warm and protect their young.
