I overheard a conversation the other day. Two guys were talking, and one of them mentioned that he had heard that “Spiders will not eat cockroaches.” Just about any other insect is on the menu, but evidently the arachnids are picky enough to eschew roach meat.
I had never heard that before. Is it true? I’m doubtful…
A Google image search for “spider eating a cockroach” brings up quite a few counterexamples.
Some spider species are food specialists, and may not have cockroaches in their diet, or even their environment. For example, the Clock Spider subsists solely on human souls. Lizards certainly eat them.
I would guess not many spiders have the size and web strength to adequately restrain and disable cockroaches.
Yeah, that would either have to be one big scary mutherfucker of a spider, or perhaps a more ordinary sized spider with seriously toxic venom.
For a while I had a big black widow as a pet- she would hungrily devour moths or beetles or other things I would catch for her. Once I caught a medium-sized roach and tossed it in her jar. She ignored it for days- she seemed aware of it, seeming to ready herself when it strayed near her web. Finally I guess she got hungry enough and I saw the wrapped-up roach in her web one day. I definitely had the impression she just wasn’t into that roach for some reason, but who knows.
I agree. Roaches are pretty big and strong relative to your average house spider. Given the choice between an infestation of roaches and the spiders that actively eat them, I’m not certain what I would want.
Well, the spiders I guess, since their population would quickly become limited.
I’m guessing that, based on your user handle, that you have direct experience with this?
Lizards certainly eat human souls, Clock Spiders, or cockroaches?
Yes.
I am, the spiders, in a walk.