In recent times, most folks ask what eats jumping spiders in other to help them protect their lovely spiders at home. Well, it might shock you to know that jumping spiders are among the menu of plenty of animals and insects.
In fact, most animals delight in catching a jumping spider and chow down for a delicious meal. Besides, other species of spiders, birds, parasitic wasps, lizards, frogs also feed on jumping spiders, which to a large extent remains as their regular diet. In this write-up, we’ll extensively consider few lists of creatures that feed on spiders. This will enable you as a jumping spider owner device a protective means on how to secure your jumping spider.
Birds
The truth is that different types of birds remain an essential predator of jumping spiders. Majority of birds that feed on inserts will feed on spiders. This means that they regularly feed on them. Some examples include; blackbirds, wrens, sparrows, etc. For Wren and insectivorous birds, they depend heavily on spiders, especially very early during their nesting season. It comprises about 75% of their food because they continuously bring it for their chicks to feed on.
Other Spiders
Jumping spiders are also important prey to other spiders. For instance, the wolf spider species is one of the known predators to jumping spiders. These spiders are very optimistic and will most likely prey on anything that crosses their part, jumping spiders-inclusive. Another spider species that prey on a jumping spider is the Cellar spiders.
This doesn’t just end up catching jumping spiders with their web; they even go to the extent of making their way into the snares of other spiders, hence tricking the original owners into thinking they prey. They do this by vibrating the silk lines in other to lure the nest owners. Once they fall for it, they feed on them. Their long legs serve as an advantage because it enables them to maintain a reasonable distance as they subdue spiders larger than them.
Wasps
This remains the most frightening enemy of a jumping spider. They’re about 8cm long with a wingspan measuring about 10cm. These features give them the advantage to take on matured jumping spiders. At first, they’ll sting the spider, which makes them paralyze. This puts them in a disadvantageous position. Next is to drag it into their burrow for wasp larva to feed on.
Reptiles and Amphibians
This category includes; toads, lizards, frogs. They continuously feed on jumping spiders, especially juvenile toads and frogs that feed on them as they mature into an adult. In fact, jumping spiders comprise about 5% of their diet. You might wish to know that they’re numerous species of insectivorous lizards. This means that jumping spider remains top on their menu list. To a large extent, this diet keeps the population of jumping spiders under control, hence not throwing the ecology of lizards off balance.
Scorpions
Though scorpions do not just attack humans unless, for self-defence, they generally instil more fears for humans than jumping spiders, they use their pincers to capture jumping spiders and other prey. Next, they inject the prey with neurotoxic venom, which makes it become paralyzed. This becomes an easy meal for the scorpion. In most cases, scorpions do kill jumping spiders without injecting venom into them. They do this with the help of their small claw-like structure that can be seen protruding directly from their mouth (chelicerae). This is a very sharp tool, making it easy to dispose of any substantial meal since they’re more comfortable ingesting majorly liquids.
Monkeys
There are numerous species of monkeys, and some feed on jumping spiders. Though jumping spiders is not among their main diet, research shows that they occasionally snack on jumping spiders.
In Conclusion
So, birds, other species of spiders, and wasps, and sometimes monkeys are regular jumping spider-eaters. The list above is certainly not exhaustive, but I hope it gives you a good idea of the categories of animals that feed on jumping spiders. Furthermore, the majority of other animals do also join now and then.
Frequently asked questions
What eats jumping spiders?
- Different types of birds remain an essential predator of jumping spiders. This can be vividly seen around forest canopies.
- Insectivorous birds, for instance, great tits, regularly feed on various varieties of insects, including jumping spiders.
- Other spiders are also key predators of jumping spiders.
- Wasps always specialize in feeding jumping spiders.
Do jumping spiders feed on other spiders?
Jumping spiders are known to be carnivores. They feed on smaller insects and other spiders about their size. You may wish to know that they do not spin webs mainly for catching prey. Instead, they make use of silken thread. This serves as an anchor, helping them climb and navigate a vertical surface. Besides, jumping spiders are generally harmless to humans.
Do jumping spiders feed on brown recluse?
A jumping spider can only stay a maximum of 3 days without food. This means that it would feed at least one brown recluse per day.
What is the natural predator of a jumping spider?
Jumping spiders are small, and this makes them have numerous enemies. Bigger animals, like toads, birds, monkeys, and lizards, always hunt and feed on them. Furthermore, other smaller creatures use them as food.
Can jumping spiders feed on mealworms?
Flies are among the top food options for pet jumping spiders. It’s easy to keep them. Also, the majority of popular pet species eat on them. Mealworms are also different from crickets because they do not harm molting or sick spiders.
What are jumping spiders afraid of?
In most cases, jumping spiders are afraid of people, animals, and the majority of insects – but this does not include the one they’re about to feed on. As outlined earlier, jumping spiders are small in size. Hence this makes them completely vulnerable. Many animals and birds try to feed on jumping spiders. When they can’t, they’ll proceed to interfere with their food source.
