Wrapping prey before eating?

[WheelbarrowTim]

I gave my G Actaeon a cricket today and she happily accepted it like she always does. Except this time she killed it, put it down, spun some web over it, then picked it up and ate it. Does anyone know the reason for this behavior?

 

[Hoxter]

She doesn't want cricket to fall apart while being eaten so she used a bit of webbing to keep it together.

 

[Colorado Ts]

She doesn't want cricket to fall apart while being eaten so she used a bit of webbing to keep it together.

...oh, you beat me to it....

 

[vancwa]

To subdue.

 

[WheelbarrowTim]

Interesting. I have never observed my girl doing this before so I was a bit puzzled. I thought at first she might be saving it for later but when she picked it back up I was lost. Thanks for the replies!

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Tarantulas basically eat by puking digestive fluid onto the prey, mashing it up with their chelicerae, and then sucking up the liquidised innards.

The webbing is to ensure that it doesn't all fall apart in the process.

 

[Feral]

Webbing: The tortillas tarantulas make with thier butts

 

[FrDoc]

Tarantulas basically eat by puking digestive fluid onto the prey, mashing it up with their chelicerae, and then sucking up the liquidised innards.

The webbing is to ensure that it doesn't all fall apart in the process.

“Liquidised”??? Ah, the king’s English! I even had to override my autocorrect to type this.

 

[Feral]

“Liquidised”??? Ah, the king’s English! I even had to override my autocorrect to type this.

I don't appreciate your off-colour remark, your behaviour is unacceptable. He learnt at fine English schools, and he spelt it perfectly well. Let's all be civilised. No offence, but let's manoeuvre this conversation back on topic. Cheers!

(How'd I do, @The Grym Reaper? Can I be an honorary Brit yet, please?)

 

[Jesse607]

The silk applied to prey also adds a chemosensory signal that allows the tarantula to find the bolus/dispatched prey if/when it is dropped. Tarantulas may let go of the captured prey/bolus to catch additional prey or to close up the burrow entrance before resuming feeding, or if disturbed in some way.

 

[Vanessa]

I gave my G Actaeon a cricket today and she happily accepted it like she always does. Except this time she killed it, put it down, spun some web over it, then picked it up and ate it. Does anyone know the reason for this behavior?

When they are webbing it over, we call that their Happy Dance. I have always found that the better the feeding response, the more enthusiastic the Happy Dance is. My Grammostola actaeon has one of the most enthusiastic Happy Dances of my entire collection. She LOVES her food.

 

[WheelbarrowTim]

When they are webbing it over, we call that their Happy Dance. I have always found that the better the feeding response, the more enthusiastic the Happy Dance is. My Grammostola actaeon has one of the most enthusiastic Happy Dances of my entire collection. She LOVES her food.

I got a clip this morning of a voracious take down. This species just seem to be hungry bois

 

[The Grym Reaper]

“Liquidised”??? Ah, the king’s English! I even had to override my autocorrect to type this.

Yeah, here in old Blighty tarantulas have haemolymph, they moult, and spermathecae are sclerotised

He learnt at fine English schools, and he spelt it perfectly well.

I actually use "learned" and "spelled" but both of those are considered acceptable and used pretty commonly in British English.

(How'd I do, @The Grym Reaper? Can I be an honorary Brit yet, please?)

Yes, although I'm not entirely sure why you'd want to at this present moment

 

[viper69]

Does anyone know the reason for this behavior?

No