Facts About the Environment of Spiders

Prey

• All spiders need food, therefore, the environment they choose needs to have appropriate prey for the species. Most spiders feed on insects, although a few larger species feed on small birds and lizards. Some spiders feed on plant nectar when they are young and there is even one species that is vegetarian and eats mainly acacia trees. When a spider is selecting a habitat, it is important to determine if the environment has food for both adult and baby spiders.

Climate

• As with all animal and plant species, spiders have adaptations that allow them to live in certain environments. It is important that the environment the spider selects has the proper climate to ensure survival. Wolf spiders, for example, are found in desert-type regions. They have a thick outer covering to prevent moisture loss. Diving bell spiders, the only species that spends its entire life underwater, build diving bell webs to store air. Species of spiders that prefer colder climates typically hibernate to survive the frigid winter months.

Water

• Spiders need water to survive, as do most other living creatures. They can drink water from any available source, including puddles and droplets of water on leaves. The water requirements for each species varies, but spiders will choose habitats that are suitable to their water requirements. Some species, including black widows, get their water from the bodily fluids they suck out of their prey, so they can live in environments with little or no water. Many web-spinning spiders can drink the dewdrops that collect on their webs in the morning.

Predators

• While this may seem counterintuitive, spiders do need predators in their environment. Since they are not at the top of the food chain, they have a wide variety of natural predators. Predation on spiders is necessary to thin out the population in a given area and prevent overpopulation. If predators were not present, overcrowding and increased competition for food would result.