I didn’t know spiders ate snails
Whilst taking refuge in the greenhouse during this morning’s hail-storm, I noticed this spider. It had snails caught in its web – I’ve never seen this before – do spiders eat snails? I can’t think why the snail would wander into a web – or perhaps it was ambushed and then secured by silk.
I wonder if the snails were dying, or had died, and thus attracted flies, so the spider made the web knowing flies would come near.
The hail stopped and I left the spider to it, but I’ll keep an eye on this one.
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yes indeed they do, so says the internet. I didn’t know that either.
Just a natural balancing thing then, I’ve got lots of snails in the greenhouse – now spider can keep them under control.
They do indeed eat snails. Glow worm larvae feed on small chalk snails, and they are tiny wee worm-like creatures. I saw pics a couple of weeks ago of a Water Vole eating a fish and a snail- Mother Nature, eh? :o)
I thought you’d know CT – at the same time I noticed a burrowing beetle (covered in mites), and I’ve looked it up – very fascinating creature, and also saw what looked like a woodlouse, but it was gold metalic coloured and slightly hairy, have yet to identify. Was the vole eating a water snail? Nature indeed!
Your ‘woodlouse’ sounds fascinating, Jennifer. I wonder if you will log it or send it for ID if you have a photo? I saw what seemed to be an unusual one at Grimes Graves, and sent off a photo and key details last week. It came back as a common one after all, but at least it is another record added to the picture.
http://www.bmig.org.uk/gallery/47
Thankyou for the link Caroline – unfortunately I didn’t get an image of it, there was so much going on with the beetle and the spider, and the woodlouse thing was fast on its legs! I’m going back often to the place I saw it with camera ready, so hopefully I’ll get a picture soon.