Do Spiders Hibernate How Do They Survive Winter

Spiders are cold-blooded arachnids with a wide range of distribution throughout the world.All spider species belong to the class Arachnida. Besides the spider, the group of arachnids also include scorpions, daddy long legs, ticks, mites, and other lesser-known organisms.Spiders differ from insects in having eight legs instead of six. Besides, the body of spiders is divided into two parts. The body of spiders may range in size between 0.02-3.5 in (0.5-89 mm), with the female spiders usually being larger than their male counterparts.The spider is a predatory arachnid that mostly feeds on insects. While most spiders have an extraordinary sense of sight or touch that helps them to track down prey, the spider web is a pretty handy resource for trapping insects. Spider webs are woven out of silk that the spiders secrete from their abdominal glands. The silk is nothing but a protein called fibroin. Interestingly, the number and types of silk glands vary with the spider species; while primitive spider species generally have two types of silk glands, the garden orb weavers have a minimum of seven. Spider webs are known for their elasticity and high tensile strength. Besides the web, some species of spiders also secrete venom to capture prey. However, only some species are toxic to humans.Due to the predatory nature of spiders, they are used as effective pest control agents to keep the population of bugs under check, especially in orchards and rice fields. Being cold-blooded organisms, the body temperature of spiders fluctuates with variations in outside temperature. However, they have evolved amazing ways to pull through the freezing winter months. Read on to find out!If you enjoyed this article, why not also read about how do animals hibernate or when do bears hibernate here on Kidadl?When do spiders hibernate?If you have been wondering where do spiders go in the winter, here is the answer. Depending on the species, spiders may or may not hibernate in winter to survive the cold weather.Hibernation is a seasonal phenomenon observed in some animals, whereby the metabolic activity of the animal is significantly reduced to conserve energy and survive the cold weather. Entering this dormant stage to survive the cold is a survival instinct that some animals, spiders, and insects show because food is usually scarce in the winter. Hence, by hibernating and slowing down the metabolism, the organisms require less food.Among spiders, the fishing spider and the tarantula are known to survive winter by hibernating. Species of spiders that hibernate spend the harsh and freezing winters under the bark of trees amidst piles of rocks or leaf piles. It is more common for garden spiders to spend hibernation time outdoors. Contrary to house spiders, spiders preferring the outdoors do not usually survive in the warmer nooks and crannies indoors. However, house spiders that are adapted to indoor conditions may take shelter in warm corners such as cellars and attics or may even remain dormant inside egg sacs. They are accustomed to indoor conditions and can continue to breed even in warmth.In addition, hibernating spiders in the winter produce antifreeze compounds inside their body. Such an adaptation is especially seen in spiders native to colder climates. As spiders sense that the temperatures are dropping, they start accumulating glycol compounds in their body fluid stream. These antifreeze compounds work in a similar way as the antifreeze in cars; they avoid the spider’s tissues from freezing even when exposed to below-freezing temperatures. When the cold weather sets in and the temperatures are freezing, such antifreeze substances prevent the formation of damaging ice crystals and let the spiders survive the harsh winter. The combination of the antifreeze and the warm hibernation shelter are effective natural survival techniques for spiders. However, spiders are more than likely to die at temperatures below 23 degrees Fahrenheit (-5 degrees Celsius).Spiders Hibernating In Egg SacsSome species of spiders, particularly the indoor ones, hibernate through the cold winters in egg sacs and emerge in summer when the temperature is warmer.It is very common for spiderlings or baby spiders to spend the colder months inside egg sacs. Spiders are pretty good at sensing the onset of cold weather and prepare in advance for the harsh winter temperatures. Hence, they mate and lay eggs during early fall. However, the eggs can freeze and die at colder temperatures. So, the spiders have to ensure that the eggs remain alive and hatch during the warmer spring to complete the life cycle.Thus, the female spider selects a dark, safe, and warm place to produce the eggs so that they remain protected when the temperatures fall. The safe space could be under leaf litter, rock piles, under the bark of a tree, or even in a nice, dark, and warm spot inside a house. While some species have eggs that hatch in winter, others have eggs that will not hatch until spring. Spiderlings or baby spiders survive together inside the egg sac, and once the temperatures become warmer, they eat their way out of the egg sac, emerge, and continue their life cycle. Further, spiders usually weave webs or cocoons to provide a safe haven for the eggs until they hatch.Like bed bugs, house spiders end up sneaking indoors and remain hiding until outside temperatures are warm enough. They search for warm and humid conditions during the winter, and indoor spaces provide the ideal ambiance for building their webs. In addition, spending the colder months indoors keeps the egg sac safe from freezing and dying. Moreover, the house spider can be a great pest control agent while residing in your home since it will prey on bugs for food. So, even though spiders can be a gross sight and a real nuisance for those who have arachnophobia, they are useful creatures if you want to do some effortless pest control in your home!Do spiders hibernate in cold climates?While some species of spiders prepare well for the winter and survive, some may not live to see the end of the cold season.Unlike the tarantula or the fishing spider, some spiders die upon the arrival of the cold season. For example, the North American black and yellow garden spiders and the garden orb weavers survive only for a single season and die over the winter. Spiders that do not live through the winter usually lay their eggs in the fall and leave them for hatching in spring or when the weather is warmer.However, it is a myth that outdoor spiders take shelter indoors to escape the extreme temperature outside. Since they are cold-blooded creatures, spiders fail to reproduce or die in the warmth that an indoor environment would offer. It is common for house spiders to wander into the warmth of homes during the late summer or early fall. Even so, you should not mistake them for outdoor species seeking a place of warmth inside your house. The breeding time of most spiders coincides with the change of late summer to fall. So, if you spot more spiders than usual in your house during these months, the chances are that they are mature males on the lookout for a mate.Spiders that hibernate during the winter prepare to live through the low temperatures by building a cocoon type of insulating nest in sheltered spots such as under rock piles, leaf litter, or underneath the bark of trees. The cocoon is a cozy little pod-like structure where the spider stays for warmth. The pods resemble spider egg nests and are built in a secluded area. The spider seals itself within the isolated space and covers the openings with webbings. The webbing blocks the outside cold air and keeps the interior of the pod sufficiently snug. However, there are some species, such as the wolf spiders, that, instead of spinning a web or cocoon, burrow underground to shelter from the extreme weather.Thus, the arrival of the winter season brings different fates for the spiders. While some have evolved various mechanisms such as the production of antifreeze compounds, building cocoons, or weaving a protective web, others die before they can see spring. Spiders that hibernate over the winter usually emerge when temperatures have started rising again.Do spiders eat while hibernating?Spiders can live through the temporary unavailability of food resources and go without eating while hibernating.Winter is a time that is associated with scarcity of food. As it so happens, many animals go into a dormant state during the winters and can live for days without food. The dormant state or hibernation period is marked by reduced metabolic activities because the organism does not consume food. Hence, to conserve the energy reserve in the body and overcome the winter, the animal stops being active and goes into a long-term torpor. Likewise, when spiders hibernate in winter, their digestion and metabolism are considerably lowered. Hence, they can survive on less or no food at all. However, prolonged periods of starvation or unavailability of food even after the winter is over may lead to the death of the spiders.While most winter hibernating spiders build cozy pods with their webbing, some may ensure insulation by building sacs near the ground and letting snow build up over them. In the case of house spiders, you may find these sacs affixed onto corners of high roofs or sturdy shelters. When the days are comparatively warmer, spiders may come out of their web sacs in order to hunt for food. When temperatures drop again, they will return to their sac and reseal it.Spiders are fascinating creatures with a mind-boggling variety of species spread across all kinds of habitats around the world. While these arachnids are most famous for the intricate webs they weave, other aspects of their lifestyle are equally captivating.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for do spiders hibernate?, then why not take a look at how do insects breathe? or Recluse Spider Facts.

Spiders are cold-blooded arachnids with a wide range of distribution throughout the world.