Cat-faced spiders, known for their distinctive appearance resembling a cat's face on their abdomen, are a type of orb-weaving spider found in North America. Like most spiders, cat-faced spiders are carnivorous and primarily feed on insects and other small arthropods. In this article, we will explore what cat-faced spiders eat, how they catch their prey, and their role in the ecosystem.

Introduction: Understanding the Diet of Cat-Faced Spiders

Cat-faced spiders are known for their unique appearance, with a body that features markings and structures resembling a cat's face. These spiders are harmless to humans and are primarily nocturnal hunters. They build intricate webs to catch their prey, and their diet mainly consists of flying and crawling insects. Let’s take a closer look at what they eat and how they capture their meals.

1. Insects: The Main Diet of Cat-Faced Spiders

The primary food source for cat-faced spiders consists of insects. These spiders use their webs to trap a wide variety of flying and crawling insects, which they then consume. Common insects that cat-faced spiders eat include:

• Flies: Flies are one of the most common prey items for cat-faced spiders, as they often get caught in the webs.
• Moths: Moths are attracted to the spider’s web, and cat-faced spiders will catch them with their silk threads.
• Beetles: Smaller beetles can also become trapped in the spider's web, providing a nutritious meal.
• Grasshoppers and Crickets: These larger insects are often caught by the spider if they venture too close to the web.
• Ants: While ants are less likely to get caught in the web, they are still a potential food source, especially if the spider’s web is positioned near ant trails.

2. How Cat-Faced Spiders Hunt

Cat-faced spiders are orb-weavers, meaning they construct large, circular webs that are used to capture prey. These webs are typically built in areas where flying insects are abundant, such as gardens, forests, or near street lights. Here’s how cat-faced spiders catch their food:

• Web Construction: The spider spins a large, round web with radial threads and a spiral design. The web is designed to be strong enough to catch flying insects but flexible enough to absorb the shock of their impact.
• Waiting for Prey: Once the web is complete, the spider waits for insects to become entangled in the threads. They remain hidden at the center or at the edges of the web, staying alert for any signs of captured prey.
• Prey Capture: When an insect becomes stuck in the web, the spider quickly approaches and immobilizes it using its venomous bite. The spider injects digestive enzymes into the prey, liquefying its tissues so that the spider can suck up the nutrients.
• Feeding: After immobilizing the prey, the cat-faced spider begins feeding on it. They typically consume smaller insects in one sitting, while larger prey may take longer to consume.

3. Occasional Larger Prey

Though cat-faced spiders mainly catch smaller insects, they have been known to catch and feed on larger prey, such as:

• Small Lizards: In rare cases, cat-faced spiders may catch small lizards or amphibians, particularly if the prey is close to the spider's web and becomes ensnared.
• Other Spiders: Cat-faced spiders are also known to sometimes catch other, smaller spiders in their webs. This is common in environments where multiple species of spiders overlap.

4. Role in the Ecosystem

Cat-faced spiders play an important role in controlling the population of insects in their environment. By catching and consuming various pests, they help regulate insect populations, preventing overgrowth of certain species. This makes them beneficial to gardeners and farmers, as they help control the number of crop-damaging insects. Additionally, cat-faced spiders are an essential food source for other predators, such as birds, frogs, and larger insects.

5. What Cat-Faced Spiders Don’t Eat

While cat-faced spiders are carnivorous, they are selective in their diet. There are several things they do not typically eat:

• Plants: As obligate carnivores, cat-faced spiders do not feed on plants or plant material.
• Large Animals: Cat-faced spiders are not capable of capturing large animals. Their webs are designed to catch smaller prey, and they lack the strength to subdue larger animals.
• Dead or Decaying Animals: Cat-faced spiders generally prefer live prey. While they may feed on carrion in some cases, they are more likely to catch and eat fresh, live insects.

Conclusion: A Carnivorous Hunter in the Web

Cat-faced spiders are efficient hunters that rely on their intricate webs to catch a variety of insects, including flies, moths, beetles, and grasshoppers. These spiders are opportunistic feeders and can occasionally catch larger prey, such as small lizards or other spiders. Their diet primarily consists of fresh, live insects that are caught in their webs, and they play an important role in controlling insect populations in their habitats. By understanding what cat-faced spiders eat, we can appreciate their role in the ecosystem and their impressive hunting abilities.