With Halloween right around the corner, spiders are at the front of many people’s minds as creepy crawly scare-factors. The UK is home to more than 600 species of spider, each of which makes an essential, interesting and unique contribution to the ecosystem. Even if they are spooky, spiders are not the dark and mysterious creatures we once thought. Their behaviors, adaptations, and lifestyles paint a much more amicable picture.
Among the larger ones is the common house spider (Tegenaria domestica), an image of which is shown here. During the fall months you’ll frequently find this species inside. In this study, both male and female spiders exhibited greater activity at night. In comparison, the females are less showy, spending their time feeding and laying up for the upcoming breeding season.
One of the other spiders frequently found inside homes is the cellar spider (Pholcus phalangioides). This species, although not originally native to the UK, was introduced into the country from Asia in the 1800s. The cellar spider might be the undisputed champion of cohabiting with humans. You can usually find its messy webs strewn around the edges and in the nooks and crannies of your house. Its versatility is a prime example of the phenomenon scientists call synanthropy, in which some species increasingly adapt to life alongside humans.
Interestingly, spider mating rituals are elaborate. Male spiders fill specialized organs called palps with sperm and often perform a dance to attract females, ensuring that they are receptive and that they won’t become a meal. The moment illustrates the razor edge that separates survival and reproduction in the world of spiders.
Spiders exhibit fascinating sleep patterns. In a 2022 study, researchers found that jumping spiders blink and twitch their legs in their sleep. Together, these behaviors indicate that they share similar phases of REM sleep, just like humans. While it’s expected that spiders would communicate using their silk, this fascinating finding complicates our understanding of spider behavior and biology even further.
Many species, like Hyptiotes paradoxus, produce distinctive webs featuring triangular webs that look like slices of pizza. Each spider crafted a web at a unique rate. Depending on the species, it can do this in under just a few minutes or up to days.
In cities, indoor spiders mostly stay active at night into early fall. They take advantage of all that dark to be the effective predators they are, completing their ecological roles and controlling pest populations. Although just about everyone personally hates spiders, don’t kill them, they greatly reduce pest populations in your home.
As Halloween festivities commence, it is essential to remember that these creatures play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance. An old proverb tells us that, “if you want to live and thrive, let a spider run alive.” This sentiment emphasizes the importance of coexistence with these often-misunderstood arachnids.