How Do Spiders Ever Work Together?
WouterSpiders are typically thought of as lone hunters, but some species of the arachnid actually live in colonies. This social behavior is more common in tropical regions. In addition to capturing prey, they build collective webs and work together to share resources.
Researchers at the Research Center on Animal Cognition in Toulouse studied how communal spiders synchronize their movement and attack prey. They found that the frequency of vibrations they received from their prey was not a pacemaker. But the timing of stimulation was crucial to make sure the frequency did not influence their movements.
As the spiders’ colony grew, their prey size increased. They captured birds and insects that would not normally fit in their individual webs. A large web means more food, and larger webs also mean higher reproductive rates.
Researchers have seen several different species of social spiders working together to catch prey. These colonies can include hundreds, thousands, or even millions of spiders. Some have even formed small colonies in captivity.
The most well-known example of social spiders is Anelosimus eximius. This species lives in South America, and builds massive nests that contain thousands of spiders. They use vibrations in their mega-webs to coordinate a synchronized swarming process.
Researchers believe this hyperlocal environment may have fostered a culture of social behavior among spiders. As a result, they can cohabitate in larger numbers, subdue larger prey, and work more effectively as a team.
Researchers have observed a large, social spider colony taking down a bat. They are also known to kill large insects.
