Orb weaver spiders are fascinating creatures that construct intricate, circular webs to catch flying insects. Their large webs can sometimes span several feet across. With their vibrant colors and intricate designs, orb weaver spider webs are truly works of art.
These spiders do not actively hunt down prey. Rather, they wait patiently for insects to become ensnared in their sticky webs. Once an unlucky insect lands in the web, the waiting spider quickly immobilizes it with silk and then delivers a lethal bite. The spider then wraps the prey in more silk and hangs it in the web to consume later.
Given their dependence on trapping flying insects, it’s natural to wonder if orb weavers pose any danger to larger flying creatures, like hummingbirds. Could a hummingbird potentially fly into an orb weaver’s web and become trapped? Do orb weaver spiders actually eat hummingbirds?
Do Orb Weavers Build Webs Large Enough to Catch Hummingbirds?
To determine if orb weavers could potentially pose a threat to hummingbirds, we first need to consider the size of their webs. Orb weaver spider webs range greatly in size, but they are mostly tailored to catching small flying insects like mosquitoes, flies, moths, and bees.
Some of the very largest orb webs can reach diameters of 2 to 3 feet. While certainly impressive in size, these webs would still be far too small and fragile to contain and support the weight of even a very small hummingbird.
By comparison, hummingbirds are much larger than insects. The smallest hummingbird species, the bee hummingbird, weighs only about 2 grams on average. But even this tiny bird would be far too heavy for most orb weaver webs.
Larger hummingbird species can weigh 10 grams or more. These hummingbirds would completely destroy an orb web if they collided with one during flight.
So while their webs are intricate and beautiful, most orb weavers simply don’t build webs large or strong enough to capture hummingbirds. Only the very largest webs spun by orb weavers approach sizes that could potentially risk entangling a small hummingbird. But even then, the web would likely snap under the hummingbird’s weight.
Do Orb Weavers Hunt Hummingbirds?
In addition to catching prey in their webs, some spiders are active hunters, directly pursuing and catching prey without relying on webs. Could orb weaver spiders potentially hunt hummingbirds in this manner?
The answer is a definitive no. Orb weaver spiders are obligate web builders and sedentary ambush predators. They lack the speed, agility, venom, and other adaptations necessary to actively pursue and subdue fast-flying birds.
Hummingbirds can achieve flight speeds of 30 mph or faster. Orb weaver spiders are simply unable to catch prey like hummingbirds that are speedy and highly maneuverable in flight. Instead, orb weavers rely entirely on their silk webs to passively trap slower flying insects.
So while orb weavers may represent a threat to small insects that become stuck in their webs, they pose essentially no danger to hummingbirds. Hummingbirds are far too large and fast to be caught in orb webs or directly hunted by these spiders.
Have Any Hummingbirds Been Documented in Orb Weaver Webs?
While orb weaver spiders are physically incapable of catching hummingbirds, what about rare accidents? Have there been any documented cases of hummingbirds becoming stuck in orb weaver webs?
After an extensive search of ornithological and arachnological literature, there appear to be no published scientific reports of orb weaver spiders trapping hummingbirds. Given the huge size difference between orb webs and hummingbirds, such occurrences would appear to be extremely improbable.
Likewise, searches of birding forums and nature blogs failed to turn up credible anecdotal reports of trapped hummingbirds. With millions of hummingbirds and orb weavers interacting across the Americas, even occasional chance events would likely be observed and shared by birdwatchers. But no such incidents seem to have been documented.
That said, it is impossible to definitively prove a negative. One can’t completely rule out a freak accident resulting in a small hummingbird entangled in a large orb web. But if this has occurred, it would be an extremely rare event that has evaded detection and documentation by scientists and amateur naturalists alike. Overall, it appears orb weavers pose no practical danger to hummingbirds.
How Do Hummingbirds Avoid Orb Weaver Webs?
Given that orb weaver spiders construct such large webs perfectly suited for trapping insects, how do hummingbirds routinely avoid these traps in nature?
Hummingbirds have excellent vision and maneuverability in flight. These adaptations allow them to efficiently avoid collisions with objects in their environment, including spider webs.
Specific adaptations that help hummingbirds avoid orb webs include:
- Very good vision that allows hummingbirds to visually detect webs from a distance.
- Precision hovering capability, allowing them to stop immediately in front of a web.
- The ability to fly backwards using their wing motion to back away from webs.
- Excellent maneuverability and turning capability while in flight.
- Adaptations like grooved tongue tips that allow them to cleanly pull away if they do accidentally contact sticky silk.
Additionally, orb weaver spiders often construct their webs in open areas between branches and vegetation. This makes the webs very visible and easier for hummingbirds to detect and avoid.
So while orb webs pose a major hazard to insects, hummingbirds have the visual acuity, flight agility, and other adaptations to skillfully avoid contact with orb weaver silk. This allows them to easily live alongside these spiders without risk of becoming trapped.
Could Hummingbirds Get Caught in Other Spider Webs?
While orb weaver spiders appear harmless to hummingbirds, could other types of spiders potentially capture them? Some possibilities include:
Cobweb spiders – Cobweb spiders build messy, tangled webs in corners and crevices. These three-dimensional webs could potentially entrap a small hummingbird. However, there are no documented cases, and the strength of cobwebs is likely insufficient to hold a struggling bird.
Comb-footed spiders – Web building comb-footed spiders like black widows construct dense, tangled webs low to the ground. These strong webs could possibly ensnare and hold a small hummingbird, though reported cases are extremely rare.
Bolas spiders – Instead of webs, bolas spiders use silk “bolas” to snag moth prey in flight. They are unlikely to strike a hummingbird, but if hit in the wing, could potentially entangle a bird.
Trapdoor spiders – Trapdoor spiders don’t build webs to catch prey. They construct underground burrows and could potentially grab a hummingbird that lands on the ground near their burrow, though this would be very unlikely.
Overall, while other spider species build different web designs, they are still generally too small and weak to pose a serious threat to hummingbirds. Other larger web building spiders like tarantulas are also not known to catch hummingbirds. bites or minor entrapment. But verified cases of hummingbirds being successfully preyed upon by spiders are extremely rare.
Conclusion
In summary, there is no evidence that orb weaver spiders successfully capture and eat hummingbirds. Orb weaver webs are simply too small and weak to trap hummingbirds, which are fast flying birds much larger than their usual insect prey.
While there is always the small possibility of a freak accident, hummingbirds have evolved adaptations that allow them to easily avoid contact with orb weaver webs in nature. Other spider species also lack the web size and strength needed to seriously threaten hummingbirds.
So while fascinating to consider, orb weaver spiders do not realistically pose any danger to hummingbirds. These two types of creatures manage to coexist in nature without conflict thanks to their huge differences in size, speed, and behavior.