If you have ever wondered, “does anyone eat spiders,” the short answer is yes. In some parts of the world, people eat spiders on purpose as food, while the idea that you swallow them in your sleep is a myth.
Eating spiders is not common in the U.S., but certain traditions include it as part of arachnophagy. Some people eat arachnids as snacks or ingredients, and a few spider species appear in specific local dishes.
Yes, Spiders Are Eaten In Some Places
In a few countries, people eat spiders as part of local food culture, not just for dares or stunts. The best-known example is fried tarantula, which street vendors sell in parts of Cambodia and nearby areas.
Cambodian Fried Tarantulas And Street Food Traditions
During times when food was scarce in Cambodia, people began eating fried tarantulas as a snack, and the dish later became part of street food culture. Vendors season the spiders and fry them until crisp, so the texture is more like a crunchy snack.
Which Species Are Considered Edible
The best-known edible spiders include tarantulas, the goliath birdeater (Theraphosa blondi), and some other tarantula species. Scientists have described about 15 spider species as edible, including the golden orb-weaving spider.
How Spiders Are Typically Prepared Before Eating
People usually heat spiders first, often by frying, roasting, or grilling. Traditional preparation may also include removing fangs or drying the body to help with texture and food safety.
Why The Sleep-Swallowing Claim Is A Myth
The story that you eat spiders in your sleep sounds memorable, which helped it spread widely. The famous claim says you swallow eight spiders a year, but spider experts and arachnologists say that is not supported by evidence.
Where The ‘Eight Spiders A Year’ Story Comes From
The “eight spiders a year” claim grew from a chain of repeats rather than solid data. As reconnectwithnature.org notes, the story spread widely, even though it was never rooted in proof.
What Spider Experts Say About Human Sleep
Spider experts point out that a sleeping person swallowing a spider would be a rare accident, not a routine event. The British Arachnological Society and other experts reject the idea that people regularly swallow spiders during sleep.
How Spider Behavior Makes The Claim Unlikely
Spiders do not aim for human mouths, and they tend to avoid large moving animals. Their behavior makes the myth unlikely, since crawling into a sleeping person’s mouth would be a random event.
Safety, Species, And Food Risks
Not every spider is safe to eat, and wild-caught specimens can carry extra risks. If you compare spiders with other unusual arthropod foods, the same basic rule applies: identification and handling matter a lot.
Why Wild-Caught Spiders Can Be Risky
Wild spiders may have eaten contaminated prey or lived in places with pesticides, dirt, or parasites. That is why experts urge caution, and why trying random spiders from the yard is a bad idea.
Venom, Allergies, And Contamination Concerns
Some spiders have venom that is harmless in small amounts when cooked. The real danger is often allergy or contamination.
Food safety concerns also include mites, ticks, and other tiny hitchhikers. Careful preparation is important.
How Spiders Compare With Other Unusual Arthropod Foods
People eat more unusual arthropods than just spiders. In some places, people eat fried scorpion.
Cheese mites appear in foods like Milbenkäse. This German specialty uses mites on the rind.
