Buzz
Spiders are absolutely unsettling. They craft webs all around, scuttle with their eight legs, and lurk in the darkest corners of your nightmares. But that’s just the beginning. In fact, these are some of the more mundane things they do.
10. The Plant-Eating Spider
One species of spider survives exclusively on plants. Found in Central America and Mexico, this is the only known spider that prefers consuming plants over animals or insects.
It enjoys feeding on the acacia plant’s tender tips, a plant that has no natural defense against predators. As a result, the spider isn’t the only one interested in this plant—ants are also frequent visitors. In fact, the ants often guard the plant to claim it for themselves, making it difficult for the spider to get to its meal. The spider cleverly solves this by sneaking away the leaves one by one when the ants aren’t looking.
9. Spider-Man Isn’t So Unbelievable
If someone possessed Spider-Man’s abilities, they’d be able to swing from skyscraper to skyscraper with ease—mainly because the webbing would bear their weight effortlessly. Spider silk is actually stronger than steel. A sheet of it just 2.5 centimeters (one inch) thick could stop a fighter jet in its tracks.
Humans may not have the ability to produce this kind of webbing naturally, but neither did Spider-Man if you’ve read the comics. All we need now are working web shooters and an endless supply of spider silk, and we could all swing to work instead of enduring the usual commute.
8. Spider Bandits
Some spiders obtain most of their food by outright stealing it from other spiders. These crafty creatures sneak into another spider’s web to snatch their prey. Once the theft is complete, they often kill the spider whose web they’ve violated. You might even witness these criminal acts in your own home, as the cobweb spider, often lurking in your rafters, is notorious for this behavior.
7. They Can Swim
The diving bell spider can remain submerged for more than a full day. It does so by creating a silk bubble that it fills with air, which it drags down from the surface.
The air, however, does eventually run out. Due to the high nitrate levels in the water, the air pocket shrinks over time. When this occurs, the spider must rise to the surface to gather more air.
6. They Shed Their Skin
All spiders undergo a process of shedding their exoskeleton. This is more common in their younger years, but it can continue later in life as well. In the weeks leading up to a molt, the spider’s behavior may become erratic. It may stop eating or develop bald spots (in the case of tarantulas).
Molting is a complex and lengthy process. A mix of hormones triggers the spider’s old skin to separate, while a new one begins to form, though not necessarily in that order.
5. Spider Impostors
To ward off threats, some spiders create replicas of themselves from their webs. Some of these replicas are the exact size of the spider, while others are significantly larger—likely to appear more intimidating. In fact, scientists have witnessed a spider shaking its web to make its decoy seem like it’s moving on its own. Remarkably, these decoys are effective, with spiders using them encountering fewer predators.
4. Space Spiders
A jumping spider was sent into space to test its ability to weave webs in microgravity. The spider, named Nefertiti, adapted to the new environment and managed to catch flies. Since it couldn’t jump on its prey, it learned to move along the web instead, mastering this skill within just a few days.
Nefertiti passed away from natural causes after her historic space journey—soon after being displayed at the Smithsonian.
3. The Phantom Trees of Pakistan
In 2011, the people of Pakistan were astonished when they awoke to find entire trees blanketed in spider webs. Millions of spiders had sought refuge in the trees to escape the recent floods, weaving a massive web cocoon around the branches.
The webs transformed the trees into eerie, ghost-like forms, which is how they got their name. The size of the webs may have even helped reduce the mosquito population that year.
2. Web Artistry
Spider webs are already fascinating, but some spiders take it a step further by enhancing their webs with additional decorations. While they usually use silk, they sometimes incorporate other materials, like their egg sacs. There are various theories about why they do this, such as reinforcing the web or attracting potential mates. In one study, a spider added more decorations to its web when it was damaged, supporting the idea that it strengthens the structure of the web.
1. Their Brains Are Surprisingly Large
No matter their size, every spider creates detailed webs. While this may seem like an obvious fact—since making webs is just something spiders do—it actually demands a lot of brainpower, especially when you consider the spider’s overall size.
A study revealed that the smaller the spider, the larger its brain becomes relative to its body. In some species, the brain is so large that other organs spill into the legs.
