What is this spider eating?

Question

There is a small spider living in our bathroom; built a web in the corner where the tub meets the wall. I like spiders, and haven't disturbed him.

But I have to wonder what this little beastie is eating. Due to my health issues, we keep the doors and windows closed, so no flying insects. I haven't seen anything in the web. He's been there several weeks, still active if disturbed.

My wife thinks it might be living of the dead flakes of skin dropped when we dry off after a shower. Is that possible? Or can spiders just go a very long time without food?

Seriously, I'm about to order him some Chinese.

spiderman · Accepted Answer

Spiders are unlikely to feed on flakes of human skin; this role is apparently given to dust mites, and there are spiders of the genus Oonops who feed on dust mites.

Your spider is likely to be a pholcid such as Pholcus phalangioides. These spiders are able to survive for weeks without food but, in the confines of a house, may suffer from a lack of water. Their most likely victims at this time of the year may be other spiders but as the weather improves (and you begin leaving windows open) insects such as moths become available.

Lord Chuchundra© Manda-Style© · Answer

Sounds like a Pholcid. You have holes in your house how do you think the spider got in? There are insects getting in there too. Plus a spider can go without food for a year and live off of drinking water. If it doesn't get food there it'll abandon the web and find a better spot to live

dfysdyt d · Answer

There might be tiny insects and organism humans might not be able to see. There could be mold too that's built a tiny community close by that the spider's eating. I don't think giving it food is a great idea. You could also just gently move it out the window or somewhere there's plantlife.

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What is this spider eating?

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