Name
Class
Date
Ecology Activity: How Spiders Capture Prey
Background Information: Spiders are very successful predators and therefore play a very
important role in keeping the balance of an ecosystem in place. Predators are consumers that
hunt, catch and eventually feed upon prey. Different species of spiders use different methods
to capture their prey. As you have found out, spiders produce silk for a variety of uses, one of
which is to aid in capturing prey. There are trapdoor spiders, purse web spiders, ambushing
spiders, hunting spiders, jumping spiders, pirate spiders, and web-building spiders. As a group,
the web-building spiders manufacture many different types of webs such as hammock and sheet
webs, scaffold webs, and orb webs (the most famous “classical” spider webs). Some spiders are
not so passive and use there webs to actively capture prey such as the web-casters, bolas or
angler spiders, and even spitting spiders. As you can see there are many different means that
spiders employ to capture prey.
Materials:
Computer, websites from the shared folder, classroom reference materials,
worksheet, pencil.
Additional Useful websites:
http://www.xs4all.nl/~ednieuw/Spiders/Info/spiderinfo.htm
www.amnh.org/exhibitions/hall_tour/spectrum/24.html
www.dcn.davis.ca.us/go/explorit/science/spider.html
Procedure:
Part 1: Methods for capturing prey.
1. Choose two different methods that spiders use in capturing prey. Example: web-building
and ambushing.
2. Using the resources available, on the computer and in the classroom, complete data table
1 below for each method of capture.
3. Challenge: Choose a third method of capture and add the data to your data table. Also
be sure to include this information as part of your summary.
Data Table 1:
Method 1
Method 2
Challenge
Method of capture
Description of this
method (what does
the spider do to
capture its prey?)
1
Common name of a
spider that uses this
method
Genus name
Species name
Intended prey
Common name of
another spider that
uses this method
Genus name
Species name
Intended Prey
Where
outdoors
would you look for
spiders using this
method?
Is
this
method
considered active or
passive?
Advantages of this
method
Disadvantages of this
method
1.
2.
3.
4.
Part 2: Comparison of web types
Choose two different types of webs used by web-building spiders.
Complete data table 2
Draw each web type (bonus for including resident spiders in their correct position).
Challenge: Choose a third web type and add the data to your data table. Also be sure to
draw this web and include this information as part of your summary.
2
Web Type 1
Web Type 2
Challenge
Type of web
Description of this
web
appearance
(what does the web
look like?)
Where
outdoors
would you look for
this type of web?
Approximate size of
web
Common name of a
spider that uses this
method
Genus name
Species name
Advantages of this
web type
Disadvantages of this
web type
Detailed drawing of
this type of web
3
Conclusion Questions: Applying Your Knowledge
1. If you were about to be changed into a spider of your choice what type of spider would
you choose to be, and why? (Be sure to discuss your method of capture and use of silk).
2. What was the most interesting thing you found out during this activity, and why do you
find this interesting?
Summary: Write a three paragraph summary of this activity using our standard format
(what you were doing and why you were doing it, what you found out, how this information
relates to life.)
4