How Cold Can Spiders Survive?
WouterSpiders are cold-blooded invertebrates, which means they cannot warm themselves. But, some species are ectothermic, which means they can adapt their body temperature to the environment. This allows them to stay under the surface of rocks if it gets too cold, or bask in the sun if it’s too warm.
When the temperature drops to below 50 degrees F, spiders begin to slow down and become less active. This is called diapause. In this dormant state, the spiders don’t eat much, and they aren’t able to move around much. Eventually, the temperatures warm up and they come out of dormancy.
Spiders can survive the cold by producing glycol compounds in their blood. This helps keep their cells from freezing, just like antifreeze in a car engine. They also produce polyhydroxy alcohol, which prevents ice crystals from forming inside the spider.
Other ways that spiders adapt to the cold include building web sacs. Some spiders build these sacs on roofing, siding, and high corners of buildings. Others build a warm fort out of leaves. They can also seek shelter in tree bark or rock piles.
Some spiders build insulated pods that mimic their egg sacs, which they use to protect themselves from the cold. Some spiders also build webbing, which is a type of insulating structure that blocks cold air from entering.
The majority of outdoor spiders have learned to adapt to cold weather in amazing ways. Some spiders even burrow underground or into the snow.
