How Spiders Play Dead
WouterOne of the most fascinating things about spiders is the ability to play dead. Spiders are able to fake death to ward off predators and to attract females. However, not all spiders are known to play dead.
A few of the most common species that are known to play dead include the black widow and jumping spiders. Jumping spiders play dead when they fall from a tall tree or plant. They may also play dead when they are dehydrated or stressed.
The black widow is a docile spider that plays dead to avoid predators. They only bite when they feel threatened and never kill humans.
The Southern House Spider is another species of spider that plays dead to ward off predators and to get closer to its prey. This spider has a compact body and elongated legs. It doesn’t feel pain when squished.
Some experts believe that playing dead is used as a means of self-defense, but it’s not clear why some spiders do this. Other scientists suggest that it’s a way to fool predators into leaving.
Several spiders are known to play dead, including the redback spider. These spiders will curl up their legs to resemble a ball.
Spiders can play dead for a few minutes or hours. If they are dehydrated, they will play dead to conserve their water. In fact, it’s recommended that you offer them a cotton bud dipped in water.
Other spiders are known to play dead to attract females. Male Nursery Web Spiders, for example, regularly pretend to die in order to attract females.
