Some species of spiders wrap their prey in silk before consuming it in order to immobilize it and prevent any escape attempts. The silk also plays a role in the digestion of the prey by releasing digestive enzymes that help break down the prey's tissues before the spider consumes it.
Wrapping their meal in a silk cocoon offers several immediate advantages to spiders. First, it completely traps the prey, preventing it from escaping or struggling violently. Additionally, this cocoon acts as a kind of "portable refrigerator," better preserving freshness and preventing the prey from drying out too quickly. It also serves as a way to deter other predators or opportunistic insects from stealing their meal. Finally, this silk cover protects the spider itself, reducing the risk of injury when approaching dangerous prey like wasps or bees.
When a spider wraps its prey in a silk cocoon, it greatly facilitates its digestion. In fact, some spiders inject special digestive substances into their victim. These substances gradually break down the internal tissues to transform them into a sort of nutritious soup. The cocoon acts a bit like an airtight can, preventing the precious nutrient liquid from leaking while also avoiding food waste. It allows for an efficient partial external digestion. Furthermore, this packaging helps to preserve the prey for later, much like we would place leftovers in a refrigerator, except that the spider only has silk at its disposal. And above all, it limits the evaporation or loss of liquid nutrients, ensuring that no drop is wasted.
Some spiders, like argyronetes, quickly weave a rough web around their prey to finish off swiftly and prevent escape. Others, like nephilas, take their time to carefully weave several thick layers of silk while spinning their victim around. In Uloborus species, they quickly combine biting and wrapping: a quick bite to neutralize, followed by a thick silk layer to secure the feast. Finally, species like theridiids, particularly clever, create special sticky traps to throw at their prey to immobilize it before starting their solid gift wrapping. The technique varies from one family to another depending on the type of prey, its size, and how much it struggles—all about efficiency to avoid wasting too much energy or risking injury.
Spiders have not always wrapped their prey, but this behavior has developed over time through a mechanism of natural selection. Species that could effectively neutralize their prey using silk had a clear advantage for survival and reproduction. Gradually, spiders refined their technique by using less energy and resources to immobilize and store captured insects. The result is a quick, economical, and efficient method that has become essential for certain species. This adaptation mainly depends on the type of prey available and the habitat occupied by the spider, with those living in environments with a lot of competition or very mobile prey being naturally better at quick wrapping. Nowadays, this ability is found to varying degrees among species, evidence that it remains adaptable and determined by the specific needs of each spider.
Some species of spiders inject digestive enzymes directly into their prey after wrapping it in silk, allowing for facilitated external digestion before consuming the resulting nutrient liquid.
The prey-wrapping technique used by spiders dates back more than 100 million years, as evidenced by fossils found in amber from the Cretaceous period.
By wrapping their prey in silk, some spiders significantly reduce the risks of their victims escaping or other predators taking advantage of their meal.
Some spiders produce different types of silk depending on the use: a stickier variety for capturing prey and another, more durable one used to shape protective cocoons.
Generally, spiders practice external digestion and then suck up the dissolved internal fluids of their prey, leaving behind an empty exoskeleton. They do not consume their prey in the traditional sense, but rather the nutritious pre-digested parts.
No, this behavior varies greatly among species. Some spiders actively hunt their prey without using silk, while others capture it in webs without necessarily wrapping it before consumption.
Yes, spiders produce several types of silk with different properties. For example, the silk used to wrap prey is often stickier and stronger than that used for the structural support of the web.
No, spider silk has several functions in addition to capturing prey: it allows spiders to build their cocoons, move from one place to another, and even create shelters to hide from predators.
Yes, some prey that are too large, too strong, or equipped with a particular defense mechanism (such as a potent venom or painful spines) cannot be easily subdued or wrapped by certain species of spiders.
The duration varies depending on the species and environmental conditions. Generally, some spiders can keep prey wrapped in silk for several days or even weeks, allowing them to establish a reliable food reserve.
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