Spiders ensnare and hunt bats: The stuff nightmares are made of

As if spiders weren't scary enough, I have just found out that some of them are large enough to ensnare and feed on bats. Folks, this is the stuff nightmares are made of – at least my nightmares. A scientific paper in PLOS ONE reports that more than 50 incidences of bat predation by spiders have been recorded on every continent except Antarctica. Sometimes the bats got tangled up in the webs and died of reasons like starvation and exhaustion. In other instances, the spiders were seen attacking and killing the bats. Shudder.

Spiders of this size are most common in the tropics. That may be comforting to some, but it still doesn't change the fact that they're on my continent. That's a little too close for comfort for this arachnophobe. Eighty-eight percent of the spiders found feeding on bats were web-building spiders, while 12 percent were hunting spiders. Hunting spiders!

Apparently, bat-catching isn't that odd for spiders. They're known to feed on animals like fish, frogs, lizards, snakes, mice and birds. Though bats dying in spider webs were thought to occur in only rare instances, this study shows that it is much more common than researchers first thought.

Let's take a more in-depth look at some of these bat-eating spiders, shall we?

Photo courtesy of Bighairyspiders.com.

Redslate Ornamental Tarantula (Poecilotheria rufilata)

This spider, also known as the Reddish Parachute Spider, is native to India. It is now considered an endangered species due to habitat degradation. This species is known to enter dwellings and is often killed out of fear. They have also been captured to sell in the pet trade. The Red Slate Ornamental Tarantula measures about 3.5 inches and is known to have very powerful venom. They feed predominantly on arthropods. The one noted in this study is estimated to have weighed between 28-85 g (a wide range).

Photo courtesy of Lon&Queta via Flickriver.

Orb-weaving spider (Argiope savignyi)

Argiope savigni is one of more than 180 species of orb weaving spiders. In Costa Rica, is has been known to feed on the proboscis bat. It spins its web in a silk disc or cruciate pattern, or a combination of the two. Like all orb weavers, it has eight eyes in two rows of four each. Still, it has poor eyesight. They are known to engage in sexual cannibalism. Orb weavers typically flee when frightened, but when they bite, it is mild.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Brown Huntsman Spider (Heterpoda venatoria)

The Brown Huntsman Spider is found in tropical and subtropical regions including Asia, Australia, the southeastern U.S., and other areas. In Hawaii, it is known as the cane spider. The spider averages five inches and moves quickly. They do not spin webs, but rather feed at night and wait for their prey until it gets close; then they'll attack. Though they look scary, these spiders will usually flee if frightened. I also found out that it's often called the banana spider due to it making an occasional appearance in bananas. According to the University of Florida, it is often mistaken for the brown recluse, but the brown huntsman is not dangerous (though the bite can be painful). In fact, it is highly valued in some countries where it eats insects and other household insects.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Six Spotted Fishing Spider (Dolomedes triton)

The Six Spotted Fishing Spider is found throughout the United States and Canada. The female measures approximately 2.4 inches, and the male is smaller. These fishing spiders have eight eyes and good vision. They hunt during the day and are known to feed on fish and tadpoles. They do not spin webs, but rather wait for their prey, attacking when something gets close. In this study, one of these spiders was reported to have attacked an immature bat in Indiana.

What do you think of these bat-eating spiders? Do you find them creepy or interesting? You might have guessed that, for me, they're creepy. I'll leave you with this quote from Hyperbole and a Half: "Spiders are little pieces of death wrapped in scary." You should go read through the entire cartoon. You'll see what I mean.

Spider/bat collage courtesy of PLOS ONE.