Small but mean and interesting

[nickster]

When I bought an old farm house a couple of years ago, it was full of pholcus phalangioides, having been uninhabited for a couple of years. I let a fair number of them stay in residence, partly to help my children to understand what spiders do and foster a health interest in such things. Anyway, I’ve noted a couple of interesting behaviour traits this year…

I caught one dangling down to the basin in the bathroom. Assuming it was after water, I put it back on the ceiling (which is just over head height at that point) and flicked some droplets around it. Rather than stick its head in the water (???) it appeared to put its leg in to it and then draw the leg across its mouth. I assume that it was drinking and that this is normal behaviour but was surprised I’d never noticed it before (given I’ve been around for nearly 40 years)?

Secondly, is there anything that these guys/girls won’t eat!?! They look fairly innocuous but they happily take on much larger spiders, judging from the carcasses seem to chow down on for few days, before discarding them on the carpet.

Anyway, glad I kept them as they have provided much interest and conversation. Admittedly, my wife is a little bemused by the interest that I share with our kids but she seems happy enough that I’m watching spiders rather than other women

[Paul mabbott]

Nice observations and it's great that you're bringing the youngsters up properly. Keep up the good work and think about writing up your observations some time ....

[Meta menardi]

When you have P. phalangoides, pretty soon that is the only spider you have.

[nickster]

Cheers folks!

So do these guys specialise in eating other spiders? They look so fragile... I would have thought that they would be no match for Tegenaria!

Any idea what makes them so formidable and punch above their apparent weight?

Best,

Nick

[aeshna5]

In my house Pholcus have certainly taken several Tegenaria over the years.

[pressld2]

In my garage too!

I also wondered how the Pholci overpower the Tegs and Venger kindly explained it here: Britain Braced For Huge Spider Invasion!

There are some pics higher up that thread of the ones in my garage making a meal of some pretty hefty Tegenaria.

Dave P.

[nickster]

A case of strategy overcoming sheer firepower - no reference to any current NATO campaigns intended... Respect to those Pholci though.

However, I'm now concerned that they are going to eat (or have already eaten) all the other interesting spiders in my house? How boring will that be! Perhaps I need to kick most of them out into the children's play house

[Venger]

You can always police them - I have Pholcus free rooms (or should I say - Pholcus reduced rooms).
You should still have quite a few spiders you've never noticed wandering around (many are nocturnal hunters.)

[nickster]

Sounds like a plan so I'm going to do just that!

[demicav]

Originally Posted by Venger

You can always police them - I have Pholcus free rooms (or should I say - Pholcus reduced rooms).

LOL, yes Pholcus reduced rooms it is. They're in every room and I don't think they can ever be held back . I mean, talk about a population explosion. I have been relocating many of the larger ones as I know there are so many tiny ones waiting in the wings. I think they must be such a surviver, for something of their size. I find them very interesting .