A recent research conducted by European scientists has revealed that spiders consume an astonishing amount of prey annually, ranging from 440 million to 880 million tons, equivalent to the combined weight of every human on Earth.
Fortunately, spiders predominantly feed on insects, although larger species may occasionally indulge in larger prey.
The study, authored by professors Martin Nyffeler and Klaus Birkhofer, highlights the identification of approximately 45,000 spider species to date, collectively weighing around 25 million metric tons.
Furthermore, the research indicates an average global density of 131 spiders per square meter, with densities potentially reaching up to 1000 spiders per square meter under optimal conditions.
Nyffeler and Birkhofer employed a duo of methodologies to assess the dietary habits of spiders.
Initially, they extrapolated from existing data to ascertain that spiders ingest approximately 10 percent of their body weight daily. This equated to an annual consumption range of between 460 million and 700 million metric tons of prey.
Their second approach involved collating data from various sources where researchers tallied the insects consumed by spiders. This yielded a consumption estimate ranging between 395 million and 805 million metric tons annually.
This information was discovered in a Washington Post article by Christopher Ingraham, who intriguingly remarked that "spiders could eat all of us and still be hungry." He referenced a 2005 study indicating that the total global adult human biomass was around 287 million tonnes.
For an extra dose of bedtime fright, we've included a video below from Australian pest control specialist Noel Parminter, who encountered a colossal huntsman spider accompanied by a multitude of offspring.
