![]() ![]() Humans: In some parts of the world, like Cambodia, fried spiders are considered a delicacy.Monkeys: Although not a large part of their diet, monkeys eat spiders.Scorpion: Scorpions generally eat spiders.Centipedes are carnivores, and interestingly, they use their claws to paralyze spiders and other small creatures before eating them. Spider Predators: Centipedes With the help of their claws, centipedes paralyze spiders before eating them.Ĭentipedes are often considered more repulsive than the spider itself, but fortunately for humans, this multi-legged arthropod controls spiders in homes. Female wasps paralyze spiders with a sting to feed their juveniles. The spider wasp is a prominent family of insects to which the tarantula hawk belongs. Its larvae then hatch and eat the spider from the inside. The hawk “slaps” the spider’s web to attract attention, and when the tarantula shows up, they paralyze the spider with a sting, drag the tarantula into their burrow, and lays its eggs in the incapacitated spider. Tarantula hawks are wasps, not birds, that hunt tarantulas in their burrows. Some of the most common birds in the United States, such as robins, eat spiders daily. Spider Predators: BirdsĪside from gigantic spiders such as tarantulas, it is not surprising that birds are top predators to almost all species of spiders (including sparrows, blackbirds, crows, bluebirds, and wrens). The bottom line is that lizards are some of the most voracious predators of spiders. Without lizards, 65% of spiders survived. In a controlled test, researchers introduced lizards and found only 40% of spiders survived after four days. According to a scientist, Whit Gibbons, at the University of Georgia, lizards eat spiders and eradicate them in a controlled environment to a higher degree than you might think. Geckos and (invasive) chameleons are common lizards that eat spiders and small insects in the Southern US. Toads generally have a very acidic gastrointestinal juice that helps digest their prey within the shortest possible time frame. Other species like the western and natterjack toads flick their tongues to snag delicious spider meals. However, they enjoy swallowing their food whole. Surprisingly, the maxillary teeth of some toad species prevent them from chewing because of their tiny nature. This amphibian relies on the movement of its prey before hunting. Toads are ambush predators – they secretly hide and target their prey before consuming them as food. They love to eat anything that fits in their mouth, from tiny mosquitoes to spiders to giant insects and snails. Toads are not noisy when it comes to food sources. Spider Predators: Toads Natterjack toads are known to eat spiders. The most common species of fish that eat spiders are archers, trout, and mosquitofish. Fish attack spiders when they jump/fall into the water. Spiders are often feasted upon by different voracious and ruthless predators, which include: fish, toads, lizards, birds, and centipedes. It inhabits Central America and mainly eats acacia shrubs, making it the only known herbivorous spider! A large percent of spiders are harmless and serve one essential purpose – controlling the population of insects against crop destruction on farmlands. More than 45,000 species of spiders are found in different parts of the world – most of them are carnivorous except Bagheera kipling. Sadly, spiders are often at the receiving end of the food chain because of their small size. Insects, small and large animals like spider wasps, frogs, birds, and lizards eat spiders. What Eats Spiders? Spider wasps and birds eat spiders. And a fascinating fact is that they produce different types of silk, and fortunately for many species, they use them to capture their prey. Spiders also have some adaptations that set them apart from other arachnids. Their presence in the gardens and farms helps reduce chemicals in food products. The unbeatable fact is that spiders are beneficial to humans in multiple forms. Spiders are primarily carnivores that eat smaller insects. 2,973 People Couldn't Ace This Quiz Think You Can? Take Our Brand New A-Z-Animals Spiders Quiz The Background on Spiders ![]()
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