Do Spiders Have Natural Predators?
WouterMany people have arachnophobia, and fear spiders. This is one of the top phobias in the world. The fear of spiders is caused by their size. They are also known to release venom.
Predators of spiders include humans, lizards, birds, and other large animals. Although predators control the population of arachnids, they are not the main source of prey. They often supplement the arthropod diet with plant materials.
There are more than 45,000 species of spiders worldwide. Some of the more well-known ones are the black widow, tarantula, and spider wasp. Other common types of spiders include huntsman, jumping, wolf, and fishing spiders.
Some spiders have highly developed sensory systems, which enable them to identify potential predators. When a spider kills a prey, it consumes about 80% of the biomass. During periods of high feeding activity, the spider stores energy as glycogen or lipid.
Spiders are among the most numerous predators in terrestrial ecosystems. They feed on insects and small vertebrates. They have several defense mechanisms, and their diet is supplemented with plant materials.
They have pulsed feeding patterns. They alternate between periods of excessive feeding and episodes of starvation. When a larger spider is hungry, it takes several hours to finish its meal. Some species can even eat themselves. In the desert, desert spiders are a relatively minor source of global annual prey kill.
Araneids and theropods are the most prominent predators of spiders. Araneids include spiders and their relatives, such as crab spiders, spider wasps, and orb weavers. Theropods include scorpions and dragonflies.
