do some spiders eat their webs? there is a big spider with a web on my back porch. it raining and i was watching her and i could have sworn she was eating her web. im just wondering because i have never heard of them doing that.
i like having her on my back porch, she is pretty and i like watching her and she also keeps mosquitos away.
If any of you know the answer i appreciate it so i know more about her. thanks. blessed be.
2006-09-18 11:46:55 · 5 answers · asked by Ravenfire 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
Yeah, some spiders eat their webs and respin them on a regular basis. Webs aren't like hair--hair is dead keratin and nothing can really digest it (well, maybe some gross little bacteria or something. But I don't know of anything that eats hair.) But spider web strands are digestible protein (if you're a spider, anyway) and the spider eats the web and digests it, which lets it spin more webbing (I don't think they reuse it, though--it's not like repairing a fishing net.)
Keep your spider--if they're not good luck, they should be. If you're feeling especially adventurous and/or generous, catch a bug and toss it in the web. If the spider is hungry (and they usually are about now since they're gearing up to make their egg sacs), then you might get to see her nab and wrap the bug. Mmmmm! It's the circle of life! I love spiders!
2006-09-18 13:31:41 · answer #1 · answered by SlowClap 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Many spiders do eat their own webs when they no longer have a need for them. The cost to the animal to produce a web is fairly large, but they can get some of the energy back and perhaps even re-digest the proteins used and put them quickly into use again if need be. Consider also that some spiders wrap their prey up completely in a cocoon-like web before eating them... if they couldn't digest the web too they'd have trouble getting at their food!
2006-09-18 19:13:24 · answer #2 · answered by Doctor Why 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I haven't heard of spiders eating their own webs, but, I do know that spiders can at times cut their own webs and then restring. That's probably what you've observed.
2006-09-18 18:57:45 · answer #3 · answered by jasonboy 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
She wasn't eating it, she was recycling it. They reuse the material to rebuild their nest. That's cool you got to see it. They reconstruct their webs regularly, if not daily. I accidently walked through a great one that a spider built across my front door, I relocated her to my balcony, she is doing fine and pobably catching more bugs.
2006-09-18 18:56:26 · answer #4 · answered by Yo it's Me 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i think some of them do, the silk in the web is supposedly packed with protein or something.
2006-09-18 18:56:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋