Spiders eat living creatures they can overpower, and most of the time that means insects. Their spider diet usually includes flies, moths, mosquitoes, crickets, ants, beetles, and grasshoppers.
Some larger arachnids take bigger prey when they get the chance.
Most spiders hunt using size, speed, silk, and venom to catch prey.
They turn their prey into a liquid meal they can drink.
Because many spider species exist, their diets change based on where they live and how they hunt. Some spiders build webs, some chase, and some wait in place for prey to come close.
A few even eat other spiders, and some can take much bigger animals than you might expect.
What Spiders Usually Prey On
Most spiders eat small animals they can catch easily, especially insects. Web dwellers often trap moths, mosquitoes, and flies.
Active hunters may grab crickets, ants, beetles, and grasshoppers.
Insects And Other Everyday Prey
The average spider diet is packed with insects, since they are common and easy to overpower. Web-building spiders often wait for flying prey.
Ground hunters may run down crawling bugs. Many spiders eat other soft-bodied creatures like worms when the chance comes up.
Do Spiders Eat Other Spiders
Yes, spiders eat other spiders. Some species are especially likely to do this, including certain spiders that prefer a diet of their own kind, as noted by Science ABC on spider diets.
Cannibalism can also happen when food is scarce or when a larger spider meets a smaller one in the same space.
When Larger Species Take Bigger Animals
Larger spiders can take bigger prey than you might expect. A tarantula or other large tarantulas may catch lizards, frogs, or other small animals if they can overpower them.
Some hunting spiders have taken prey far larger than a tiny insect.
How Different Spiders Catch Their Food
Different spider species use very different hunting methods. Some wait in silk traps, some chase prey down, and some rely on surprise.
Web-Building Spiders And Flying Insects
Web-building spiders use silk as their main tool. Flying insects like moths and mosquitoes often get stuck in the web, and then the spider moves in and uses its chelicerae to subdue and feed on the prey.
Hunting Spiders That Chase Or Stalk
Hunting spiders do not wait for prey to land in a web. Wolf spiders, jumping spiders, and huntsman spider species may stalk, sprint, or leap onto their target.
This works well for beetles, crickets, and other active prey.
Ambush Predators And Water-Edge Hunters
Some spiders are ambush predators that stay still until prey gets close. Fishing spiders and other water-edge hunters use patience and quick strikes to catch insects near streams, ponds, or damp ground.
Unusual Diets And Feeding Patterns
Most spiders rely on animal prey, yet a few species break the pattern in surprising ways.
The Plant-Leaning Exception Of Bagheera kiplingi
One rare exception is Bagheera kiplingi, a jumping spider that feeds mostly on Beltian bodies from ant-acacia plants, along with some nectar, as described in Science ABC’s spider diet article.
Even this unusual spider stands out because most spiders cannot handle solid plant food well.
Why Spiders Mostly Drink Liquefied Prey
Spiders do not chew their food the way you do. They inject digestive fluids into prey, then drink the liquefied meal.
Fresh prey works best, and spiders often ignore old, dry prey.
How Often Spiders Eat
How often do spiders eat? Prey supply, size, and temperature all play a part.
Many spiders eat only when food comes close. They may go days or even weeks before their next meal, since they can survive on relatively little food for a while.
