Spider cannibalism and diet preferences

Veles

Arachnobaron
Joined
Jul 20, 2017
Messages
404
So,i have noticed that some true spider species i find in my garden(these are mostly sac and gnaphosidae spiders )like eating other spiders and i frequently find them doing this.
Any personal opinions or thoughts on this matter guys?
 

basin79

ArachnoGod
Active Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
5,893
So,i have noticed that some true spider species i find in my garden(these are mostly sac and gnaphosidae spiders )like eating other spiders and i frequently find them doing this.
Any personal opinions or thoughts on this matter guys?
They're eating what they can catch. There is the Portia jumping spider and is a spider specialists though. Unsure if there are any others that just eat other spiders though.
 

Veles

Arachnobaron
Joined
Jul 20, 2017
Messages
404
They're eating what they can catch. There is the Portia jumping spider and is a spider specialists though. Unsure if there are any others that just eat other spiders though.
Well yes,but i find them doing that very often.And its not like my yard has no bugs for them to prey on anyway?
 

basin79

ArachnoGod
Active Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
5,893
Well yes,but i find them doing that very often.And its not like my yard has no bugs for them to prey on anyway?
It's whether they're purposely hunting the spiders over other inverts or it's just chance.
 

Andee

Arachnobaron
Arachnosupporter
Joined
Jul 1, 2013
Messages
411
They do eat flies, but they eat other spiders with a preferance (as far as portia sp.). I think it's cause there is little competition for other spiders. And most different portias have preferred spider prey.
 

The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
11,044
Not quite getting this. There are a few species that deliberately hunt other spiders. And then, with very few exceptions, spiders will eat other spiders if the opportunity arises. It's not like they carry a menu around. Just think about the Lycosids, sparassids or pisauridae take: anything that moves, including vertebrates. And don't forget the nut squad like Oxyopidae that probably doesn't even know, or care, what their prey is until after they have their fangs in it, using the setae senses more often than their eyes.
Some web weavers are more fussy and will kick captured spiders out of their web, or even abandon the web if it looks overwhelmingly problematic. But generally speaking, these folks are survivalists. Leave fussy eater to the domestic felines.
 
Last edited:

Veles

Arachnobaron
Joined
Jul 20, 2017
Messages
404
Not quite getting this. There are a few species that deliberately hunt other spiders. And then, with very few exceptions, spiders will eat other spiders if the opportunity arises. It's not like they carry a menu around. Just think about the Lycosids, sparassids or pisauridae take: anything that moves, including vertebrates. And don't forget the nut squad like Oxyopidae that probably doesn't even know, or care, what their prey is until after they have their fangs in it, using the setae senses more often than their eyes.
Some web weavers are more fussy and will kick captured spiders out of their web, or even abandon the web if it looks overwhelmingly problematic. But generally speaking, these folks are survivalists. Leave fussy eater to the domestic felines.
Oh well,i was just weirded out by the amount of spider on spider predation that i see around my house soo often.Seriously,is it normal for ground spiders to walk into other spiders webs and eat them,because i constantly see some of them(drassodes most likely) eat agelenidaes?:confused:
 
Top