More often than not, when I throw a cricket into my spiders' enclosures, the cricket will often make a beeline toward the spider. I haven't studied it, but it seems to happen fairly often. It's like the insects are attracted to the spider somehow. Anyone else notice this behavior and/or have an explanation? Maybe it's just chance and observation bias.
Do tarantulas attract their prey somehow?
- Thread starter Matt W
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This is the exact opposite of my experience w/crix. They do not attract them in captivity at least. THOUGH, there is some thought that perhaps some species attract prey with the colors on their legs, such as I mira. There is NO data to support this. Mind you, insects see very differently than humans. Google if needed.
They are ambush/lay in wait predators regardless of species.
They are ambush/lay in wait predators regardless of species.
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In my experience, crickets often run for the first cover that they can, and they're looking for shadows. This often means that they'll run towards the burrow (which is why lying in wait just inside the burrow or web tunnel with their toes sticking out seems to be an effective hunting strategy for tarantulas). If they're not near the burrow, perhaps they see the shadow of the spider and think it's a source of cover. I've seen them run right towards the spider on occasion, and that's what I think is happening. I don't think the tarantula attracts them per se, but they lie very, very still so that (hopefully) by the time their prey realizes they're there, it's already being snatched up.
I also often see my tarantulas miss the cricket on their first lunge, at which point the cricket usually hides in a corner or under a fake plant or something for a while. My G. pulchra then either lays in wait until the cricket comes out and gets close again, or he'll slowly feel his way around the enclosure to try to get the cricket to move. My B. hamorii behaves similarly, but you can see her very deliberately laying fine webbing that's invisible to the naked eye everywhere to help her know exactly where the cricket is when it moves again. I love watching her work.
I also often see my tarantulas miss the cricket on their first lunge, at which point the cricket usually hides in a corner or under a fake plant or something for a while. My G. pulchra then either lays in wait until the cricket comes out and gets close again, or he'll slowly feel his way around the enclosure to try to get the cricket to move. My B. hamorii behaves similarly, but you can see her very deliberately laying fine webbing that's invisible to the naked eye everywhere to help her know exactly where the cricket is when it moves again. I love watching her work.
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If your T’s are in front of, or partially in, their hides, maybe the crix are running toward the hide? Just a guess. My only 2 that will run after any movement are my genic and iheringi.
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i also find the prey likes to move downward, and there is often a slight angle towards the burrow
the cricket or roach may feel this is the quickest way towards cover and follow the curvature of the soil
personally i feel like the spiders may create this shape with purpose to funnel the prey in their direction
the cricket or roach may feel this is the quickest way towards cover and follow the curvature of the soil
personally i feel like the spiders may create this shape with purpose to funnel the prey in their direction
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The times when I use crickets, banded crickets that is I notice most hop away as they seem to be aware of a predator near. I have seen a few here and there that head in the T's direction IMO it's pure coincidence.
Before my one male T. albopilosus matured it would jump at the crickets trying to capture them with not much luck. This would go on for quite a while hopping all around the enclosure trying to catch them before finally getting them, was quite hilarious to witness.
Roaches however are very aware and when I drop them in they immediately flee usually down a burrow or under anything it can find to hide. Unfortunately my adult tarantulas always finds them.
Before my one male T. albopilosus matured it would jump at the crickets trying to capture them with not much luck. This would go on for quite a while hopping all around the enclosure trying to catch them before finally getting them, was quite hilarious to witness.
Roaches however are very aware and when I drop them in they immediately flee usually down a burrow or under anything it can find to hide. Unfortunately my adult tarantulas always finds them.
Awesome, thanks for the responses! I do notice that all of my terrestrials lay down a fine layer of invisible silk over the substrate covering the whole surface of the enclosure, so I'm sure they're aware of the insects from the moment they enter. (Indeed, my T. vagans will sometimes snatch them out of the air before they ever hit the ground.) It makes sense that the spider would choose an ambush location that is naturally attractive to the insects.
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Crickets have poor eyesight. To a male cricket, a tarantula looks like a really hot female cricket.
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Opposites Attract / Magnetism 
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yep!
Crickets have poor eyesight, odds are they will wander right into a waiting tarantula!!!!
I use roaches because they don’t jump.
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" Will You walk into My Parlour? said the Spider to the Fly"
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I think it's more coincidence than anything, unless crickets in my area are just extremely oblivious to life. When I put crickets, they often just run wherever, rarely they run near the tarantula. They often try to jump out if anything, however most of mine have a strong prey drive so I'll drop the cricket in front of them and they get pounded instantly.