How Spiders Overwinter in Cold Climates
WouterSpiders are one of the northernmost animals and are able to survive cold temperatures. But not all species overwinter in the same way. Several of them build shelters and lay eggs to keep warm. Some may even stay dormant during the winter months.
When temperatures drop below 50°F, spiders begin to slow down. This is called a diapause. The body produces a type of antifreeze. This chemical stops ice from collecting in the cells. Without the antifreeze, the cell walls would freeze and burst, killing the spider.
Many of the spiders found in cold climates have adapted to cold weather by storing glycol and protein compounds in their blood. These proteins act like antifreeze. The glycol helps prevent the water in the spider’s cells from expanding into ice.
Some spiders, including the wolf spider, can live in subzero temperatures. They do this by retaining their body heat through their insulating bodies. Their ice-resistant coats allow them to seek shelter in rock piles, tree bark and leaves. Then they thaw out and resume normal activity when the temperatures are warmer.
Spiders may also build silk pods to block cold wind. Some species sunbathe on the snow. Others construct warm forts out of leaves. The eastern parson spider crawls beneath tree bark to protect itself from the cold.
During the cold season, spiders enter a state of torpor and produce an antifreeze-like compound. This keeps their internal organs from freezing and allows them to survive in below-freezing temperatures.
