We all know that spiders like to eat other insects, but is there more to their diet? Despite there being thousands of spider species, their diets are almost uniform, with most of the variations coming into play due to the environments in which these spiders live in. Let’s take a look at what spiders eat.
The Spider Diet
Different spider species and types have different diets. For example, web-building spiders will feed on flying insects that end up in their nets, insects such as mosquitoes, moths and flies. Hunting spiders on the other hand, will chase down and kill their prey, just like a tiger or a wolf would. These spiders have a wider variety of prey, but they mostly eat crickets, beetles and grasshoppers, along with other ground dwelling insects. Larger species of hunting spiders will even go for frogs, lizards and small birds if they can catch them. Most spiders will prefer to eat prey that is still living or that has died recently. Prey that has been dead for a while is usually avoided.
Plant-eating spiders
Most spider species do not eat plants and they do not have the ability to eat solid food without liquifying it first. However, a Central American spider species has plant material as a primary food source. These spiders will live in Acacia trees and feed on the nectar that these trees secrete.
Cannibals and picky eaters
Some spider species will eat only one type of prey exclusively, while others will focus on eating other spider species. You also have spiders that will mimic ants in order to better catch and eat them. By adopting this appearance, the spiders can blend into the foraging ant stream and then pick off any stragglers.
How can you use the spider diet for prevention?
When you implement preventive measures against one type of pest, you practically implement them against all pests, and this is especially true for spiders. If you can prevent insects from entering your home, spiders will have almost no reason to set up indoors. Sealing any cracks and gaps in the exterior wall of the home, near piping, and around door and window frames will prevent both spiders and other insects from getting in. However, once you have an indoor infestation, and it gets out of hand, you will need the help of a pro to get rid of it. Contact us today if you are dealing with a spider infestation and you want it removed.