Is there any hope for an insect once it gets caught in a spider's web?

Question

What if it's not strong enough to free itself, even- is there any method that can be used to remove the web without crushing the insect as well?

Answer 1

Depends on the insect. Some beetles 'freeze' when snared in a web and very slowly and carefully free themselves so the spider doesn't know they're there. There are wasps or other large insects which some spiders cut loose rather than risk injury trying to subdue and wrap them. The web itself will not usually damage the insect unless it's very delicate - the purpose of the web is to entangle and disorient the prey until the spider can arrive and permanently subdue it.
If you want to free an insect from a web, try using a can or something with an open end like a cookie cutter to "cut out" the piece with the insect in it. In a pinch, even a flat object will do, but it will likely get the insect more entangled between the web and the flat piece. Then just carefully try to remove as much of the silk as possible without damaging the insect. The odds are that you won't be able to, but perhaps with practice you'll get better. Some insects will be able to clean themselves with time, some won't.

Answer 2

Most spiders webs are strong and sticky and once an insect is caught in a web...there is very little it can do. The spider comes to it's vivtim very quickly and in seconds layers of web is wound round the insect..the spider then decides whether to drink it's blood then or later. I once observed this event and once its thirst is quenched it rids its web of the carcass. it's next victim was a pretty butterfly. I managed to pull it out of the web and the spider shook it web with rage.

Answer 3

I saw a woodlice caught in a web once.
It curled up into a little ball, with only scales on the outside.
The spider came up, checked it out... and threw the little ball out of his web.

Answer 4

me and my girlfriend watched a spider on the wall of our house last summer that had learned to flick ants into its Web and wait until they became tangled up before moving them and hanging them up nearby we seen it do this four or five times in a row amazing to watch thank god there not on the same scale as us eh

Answer 5

I try to free insects that have only just got caught,I hate the thought of it being caught and seeing this horrible ugly thing coming toward it to eat it,uggghhh,it must be horrendous.

Answer 6

dont try to free the spiders food. how would you like it if a bear came and threw out all of your food?