How Do Spiders Come Out in the Cold?
WouterDuring winter, some of the most common household spiders become warmth-hunting spiders, looking for a warm spot to hide. They may find shelter in the home or even in a live Christmas tree.
Some of these spiders will seek shelter in leaves, tree bark, or rock piles. Others will burrow underground. Depending on the species, spiders’ bodies produce cryoprotectants that help the arachnids survive in temperatures below freezing.
During winter, spiders enter a state of diapause. This slows down their metabolism and allows them to conserve energy. Diapause is temporary, and they may come out when warmer days arrive. If they do not find food, they may die.
To stay warm, some spiders create a chemical called anti-freeze. The glycol compound helps the tissues to stay unfrozen when the temperature drops below freezing. Polyhydroxy alcohol prevents ice crystals from forming in the spiders’ internal cells. These arachnids are not able to freeze for long, but they will still die if they are exposed to extremely cold temperatures.
While some species are able to survive freezing temperatures, others will not. Some of these species, such as the wolf spider, can stay in burrows during the coldest days of the season. Other spiders, such as the tarantula, enter a state of torpor, a lethargy that helps the arachnids conserve their energy.
Another way to protect spiders from cold is to clean up their egg sacs. It is best to do this before the season of hatching.
