What Insects Do Spiders Eat?
WouterWhen people think about spiders, they usually think of them as being carnivorous, but they aren’t. Scientists have discovered that some species can be vegetarian.
A recent study has revealed that more than 60 species of spider can process plant material. In fact, this practice is common. The findings were published in a recent issue of the Journal of Arachnology.
There are 129 families of spiders. Some spiders are specialized and eat only certain kinds of food. Some eat honeydew, pollen, and other plant matter. Others pierce leaves with chelicerae to gain access to nectar.
There are about 25 million metric tons of spiders in the world. They feed on 400 to 800 million tons of insects and invertebrates every year.
There are about 8,000 to 10,000 predators that feed exclusively on spiders. They range from the common house spider to the deadly black widow. Despite the threat they pose, spiders are a vital part of the ecosystem. They keep pests at bay, and they are an important component in the diet of 3,000 to 5,000 bird species.
There are many different types of insects and frogs that spiders eat. Some of the larger species of spiders, such as the Goliath bird-eating spider, are known to eat worms, frogs, and snakes. They are also known to kill humans with their venom.
Some hunting spiders are “sit-and-wait” predators, waiting for their prey to come close and then physically attacking them. Other species of spiders hold on to a web to trap their prey.
