Damon Mcknight
Spiders are a crucial part of the ecosystem, feeding on unwanted insects and pests. However, they are also prey to many other creatures. In Australia, several animals feed on spiders, including birds, lizards, snakes, turtles, and even some mammals like bats and shrews. Birds, such as bluebirds, wrens, and crows, are particularly effective at controlling spider populations. Additionally, amphibians like frogs and toads, and insects like wasps and scorpions, also prey on spiders. While spiders are feared by many due to arachnophobia, understanding their role in the ecosystem and the presence of natural predators can help manage these fears and make informed decisions about their presence in our surroundings.
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What You'll Learn
Reptiles and amphibians, including lizards, frogs, and toads
Spiders are usually meals for reptiles and amphibians, but there are instances where spiders eat reptiles and amphibians. For example, the female regal jumping spider, which is widespread in Florida, can prey on frogs and lizards two to three times its own weight. The anole, a spider-eating lizard, was also no match for the spider's venom.
Frogs and toads are also known to eat spiders. They often lie in wait or ambush spiders, swallowing their prey whole. Frogs are natural pest controllers and can be used to keep the spider population in check.
While it is uncommon, there are documented cases of spiders eating lizards and frogs. The regal jumping spider, for example, has been observed eating Cuban tree frogs in Florida. This may be because spiders can assess risks and fine-tune their hunting strategies accordingly, becoming bolder as they get hungrier.
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Fish
Dolomedes are large spiders that are exceptional at swimming, diving, and walking on the water's surface, which helps them to catch and eat local fish species. They are semi-aquatic and spend most of their time at the water's edge, camouflaging against rocks or foliage. They are nocturnal hunters, feeding at night when their main predators, the birds, are sleeping. They have a leg span of up to 9 cm and are robust with thickset legs that allow them to tackle prey larger than themselves.
The fish caught by these spiders are often more than double their own body size, excluding the legs. The largest fish on record captured by a fishing spider was a goldfish in a garden pond in Sydney, measuring 9 cm in length and weighing approximately 10 g. While the main prey of fishing spiders is aquatic insects, they are opportunistic feeders and will eat anything suitable that comes within range, including small fish.
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Birds, including bluebirds, wrens, and crows
Birds are natural predators of spiders, and in Australia, this is no different. Several bird species feed on spiders, including bluebirds, wrens, and crows. These birds play an essential role in controlling the spider population and maintaining ecological balance.
Bluebirds, or Australian robins, are known for their insectivorous diet, which includes spiders. They are small, colourful birds with a vibrant blue or reddish-brown plumage, depending on the species. Bluebirds are agile fliers and can often be seen swooping down to capture spiders and insects from webs or the ground. They have a strong preference for open habitats, such as grasslands and woodlands, where they can easily spot their prey.
Wrens, on the other hand, are small, brown birds that are common throughout Australia. They belong to the family Troglodytidae and are highly adaptable, inhabiting a range of environments, from urban areas to forests. Wrens are primarily insectivores, and spiders form an essential part of their diet. With their slender, curved bills, they are adept at probing into crevices and foliage to extract spiders and their webs.
Crows, including the Australian raven and the Torresian crow, are larger, intelligent birds that are highly opportunistic feeders. While they are known to scavenge, they also actively hunt and eat spiders. Crows have strong, curved beaks that can grasp and tear their prey. They often feed on the ground, searching for spiders and other invertebrates among leaf litter or under rocks.
It is important to note that while these bird species play a role in controlling spider populations, they are not the only predators of spiders in Australia. Other animals, such as lizards, frogs, and even other spiders, also feed on spiders as part of their diet. Additionally, the Bird-Eating Spider, a large species of Australian tarantula, is known to occasionally feed on small birds, although this behaviour is not common.
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Insects, including wasps and centipedes
Wasps, a diverse group of insects, are known to prey on spiders. In Australia alone, there are over 12,000 species of wasps, ranging from tiny diapriid wasps to larger varieties such as spider wasps and cicada-killer wasps. Tarantula hawks, also known as spider wasps, are a specific species of wasp that hunts down tarantulas in their burrows. They paralyze the spider with their sting and lay an egg inside the spider's abdomen. The wasp larvae then emerge and feed on the spider from the inside out.
Centipedes, another type of insect, are many-legged arthropods that prey on spiders. They are carnivorous and use their claws to paralyze spiders and other small creatures. While centipedes can also bite humans, they are not typically kept for spider control due to their potentially harmful nature.
Other insects that feed on spiders include scorpions and some flies. These insects may lay their eggs in spider egg sacs, providing a food source for their larvae upon hatching.
In addition to insects, several other animals contribute to natural spider control. Birds, lizards, snakes, turtles, and mammals such as bats and shrews are all known to feed on spiders.
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Mammals, including bats, shrews, and cats
Spiders are an essential part of the ecosystem, feeding on unwanted insects and pests. However, they are also prey to many creatures, including mammals such as bats, shrews, and cats.
Bats are one of the mammals that eat spiders. They are not the only flying mammals that do so, as some species of birds of prey also include spiders in their diet. While birds are a significant threat to spiders, they rarely prey on very large spiders, such as tarantulas.
Shrews are another mammal that eats spiders. Shrews are small, mouse-like creatures that are found in many parts of the world, including Australia. They have a diverse diet, and spiders are just one of the many food sources they rely on.
Cats are also known to eat spiders. Domestic cats, in particular, are helpful in controlling the spider population in and around the home. This is especially useful in Australia, where spiders are often found in people's homes.
In addition to these mammals, there are several other creatures that feed on spiders, including lizards, geckos, chameleons, snakes, and turtles. Some insects, such as wasps and centipedes, also prey on spiders.
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Frequently asked questions
Spiders are a part of the food chain and are preyed upon by several animals. Some of the common predators of spiders in Australia are:
- Birds: bluebirds, wrens, sparrows, blackbirds, crows, and robins
- Lizards: geckos and chameleons
- Mammals: bats and shrews
- Amphibians: frogs and toads
- Fish
- Centipedes
- Scorpions
- Wasps
Yes, some common household pets can help control the spider population. Cats, hedgehogs, frogs, lizards, and birds are all known to eat spiders.
Yes, spiders are known to exhibit cannibalism, especially female spiders eating male spiders after mating with them.
Besides allowing other creatures to prey on spiders, you can use chestnuts, mint or peppermint essential oil, or non-toxic chemicals to deter them from entering your home.
