What Do Household Spiders Eat When There Are No Flies or Insects?

Quite often, people assume that household spiders subsist on insects like flies, but what happens when these prey sources are scarce or non-existent?

The Spider's Diet in Absence of Flies and Insects

Spider behavior is quite fascinating, especially when it comes to finding food. If flies and other insects are not available, spiders will resort to other food sources, such as:

Eating other spiders Feeding on the leaves of house plants Feasting on dust mites, even in the cleanest homes Attacking and consuming cockroaches, believed present but unseen Cannibalizing smaller spiders and even their own species Attacking and feeding on tiny houseflies, mosquitoes, and clothing moths

Even when bugs and insects are scarce, houses are teeming with potential food sources for spiders. For instance, dust mites, which are present in every home, despite the cleanliness of the environment. However, these small creatures may not always be visible to the naked eye.

Behavioral Adaptations of House Spiders

Spiders have various adaptations to ensure their survival during periods of food scarcity. Some spiders can endure by reducing their metabolism, as illustrated by long-legged cellar spiders. These spiders can survive for long periods without food. When their prey is scarce, they move to new locations in search of better resources, a behavior known as dispersion.

Other Survival Mechanisms

Many spiders, particularly those found in corners and dead zones of the home, may starve or die from dehydration if they wander into a house without adequate insect prey. Common example of such spiders are wolf or jumping spiders. Other spiders that are often mistaken for house spiders, like the cellar spiders, would find alternative food sources or move to better hunting grounds.

How to Manage Spider Populations Without Insects

To prevent an overpopulation of spiders, you can set up traps, much like the ones used for cockroaches. These traps are specifically designed to lure spiders and provide a safe environment for them to fall into. Purchasing such traps from local grocery or drug stores can effectively reduce the spider population by mimicking the natural environment where these creatures thrive.

By understanding the dietary habits and survival strategies of spiders, one can better equip themselves to manage the presence of these arachnids in their homes. Whether through natural adaptation or strategic control methods, it is clear that spiders have a wide range of food sources to keep them surviving in domestic environments.