do praying mantis eat spiders

Do Praying Mantis Eat Spiders? The Truth About These Arachnid-Hunting Predators

If you've ever watched a praying mantis stalk its prey with those bulging, watchful eyes, you might have wondered about the extent of its hunting prowess. These fascinating insects are known for catching flies, crickets, and even small birds, but what about spiders? The question do praying mantis eat spiders is one that reveals the true nature of these patient predators. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the mantis diet, their hunting strategies, and the surprising truth about their appetite for arachnids.

Understanding do praying mantis eat spiders involves looking at their role as generalist predators. These insects are not picky eaters—they'll consume virtually any creature they can catch and subdue. Spiders, despite being formidable predators themselves, frequently appear on the mantis menu. To deepen your understanding of these incredible insects and learn how to care for them, we highly recommend downloading the Free Praying Mantis Home Care Guide PDF. And if you want to invite these fascinating predators into your garden, you can Get Free Praying Mantis (no shipping cost) and start observing their remarkable hunting behavior firsthand.

The Short Answer: Yes, Praying Mantises Definitely Eat Spiders

So, do praying mantis eat spiders? The answer is a resounding yes. Multiple authoritative sources confirm that spiders are a regular part of the mantis diet . These carnivorous insects are opportunistic hunters that will consume almost any creature they can successfully capture, and spiders are no exception .

The praying mantis is a generalist predator, meaning it doesn't specialize in any particular type of prey. Instead, it eats whatever insects and small animals it can catch . This includes a wide variety of arthropods: flies, crickets, grasshoppers, moths, butterflies, beetles, and yes, spiders . One source explicitly lists spiders among the mantis's typical wild diet alongside mosquitoes, beetles, dragonflies, and grasshoppers .

The mantis's hunting strategy makes it particularly effective against spiders. Both are predators, but the mantis has distinct advantages: mobility, reach, and strike speed . When a mantis encounters a spider, it can grab the arachnid before the spider has a chance to use its venom or web-spinning abilities effectively . The mantis's powerful, spined forelegs provide an inescapable grip .

The Mantis Hunting Strategy: Built for Spider Capture

To understand do praying mantis eat spiders and how they manage to catch these often-dangerous prey, we need to look at their remarkable hunting adaptations.

Lightning-Fast Strike

The mantis is an ambush predator that relies on stealth and speed. It remains motionless, perfectly camouflaged against leaves or bark, waiting for unsuspecting prey to wander within range . When a spider comes close enough, the mantis strikes with incredible speed—in as little as 1/20th of a second . This is faster than the spider can react, giving the mantis a crucial advantage.

Powerful Grasping Forelegs

The mantis's front legs are specialized for capturing prey. They are equipped with rows of sharp spines that interlock to hold victims in an inescapable grip . Once those spiny legs close around a spider, escape is nearly impossible. The spines dig into the spider's body, preventing it from struggling free .

Excellent Vision

Praying mantises have remarkable eyesight. Their large compound eyes provide true 3D vision, allowing them to judge distances with pinpoint accuracy . They can detect movement up to 60 feet away . This visual prowess helps them track spiders and time their strikes perfectly. Additionally, mantises are the only insects that can rotate their heads 180 degrees, giving them a panoramic view of their surroundings .

Powerful Jaws

Once a spider is captured, the mantis uses its strong mandibles to begin eating. Mantises typically start with the head, paralyzing the prey quickly and ending any struggle . They often begin feeding while the prey is still alive, a gruesome but effective strategy .

These adaptations make mantises formidable opponents for spiders, despite spiders being dangerous predators themselves. The mantis's speed, grip, and precision often overcome the spider's venom and defenses .

The Mantis Diet: Spiders Are Just One Item on the Menu

Now that we've established do praying mantis eat spiders, let's look at the full range of their diet. Mantises are voracious carnivores that consume an impressive variety of prey .

Typical Insect Prey

In the wild, mantises regularly eat :

Flies and mosquitoes
Crickets and grasshoppers
Moths and butterflies
Beetles
Bees and wasps
Cockroaches
Aphids (especially for young mantises)

Other Arachnids

Beyond spiders, mantises will eat other arachnids when opportunity arises, though spiders are the most common arachnid prey.

Surprising Larger Prey

Larger mantis species are capable of taking down surprisingly big animals . These include:

Small frogs and tree frogs
Lizards
Small snakes
Mice and other small rodents
Small birds, including hummingbirds

Cannibalism

Mantises are also famous for eating each other. This occurs at two life stages: newly hatched nymphs will eat siblings that emerge near them , and adult females often consume males during or after mating . This sexual cannibalism provides the female with nutrients for egg production .

This extensive menu shows that when asking do praying mantis eat spiders, the answer is part of a much broader predatory lifestyle. Spiders are just one of many prey items these insects regularly consume.

Predator vs. Predator: Who Wins in a Mantis-Spider Encounter?

The question do praying mantis eat spiders becomes even more interesting when we consider that spiders are themselves formidable predators. The outcome of an encounter between a mantis and a spider depends on several factors .

Size Matters

Larger mantises have a clear advantage over most spiders. A big Chinese mantis (up to 6 inches long) can easily overpower even a good-sized garden spider . Smaller mantises might be more evenly matched or could become prey themselves if they encounter a large spider .

Speed and Ambush Advantage

The mantis's lightning-fast strike often gives it the upper hand. By grabbing the spider before it can react, the mantis prevents the spider from using its venom or wrapping it in silk . Once those spiny forelegs close, the spider's fate is sealed.

When Spiders Win

It's worth noting that spiders can also be predators of mantises. The relationship isn't one-sided. Spiders are listed among the primary predators of praying mantises, alongside birds, frogs, monkeys, and snakes . A large spider, particularly web-building species that can quickly wrap prey, might successfully capture a mantis that blunders into its web. The outcome depends on the specific sizes, species, and circumstances of the encounter .

However, in most direct confrontations where the mantis initiates the attack, the mantis typically prevails due to its specialized predatory adaptations .

Do Mantises Eat Spider Mites and Other Tiny Arachnids?

A related question to do praying mantis eat spiders is whether they eat even smaller arachnids like spider mites. The answer requires understanding mantis prey size limitations.

Praying mantises have size requirements for their prey. Newly hatched nymphs are tiny and can feed on very small insects like aphids and fruit flies . As they grow, they require larger prey .

Spider mites are extremely tiny—smaller than even newly hatched mantis nymphs can easily handle. While a very young mantis might technically be able to consume spider mites, they are not considered ideal or common prey . Adult mantises completely ignore prey this small because it's not worth the energy expenditure. If you have spider mite problems in your garden, mantises are not the solution—other predatory mites are far more effective .

So while the answer to do praying mantis eat spiders is yes for typical spiders, it's generally no for spider mites.

What Do Pet Mantises Eat? Feeding Your Captive Predator

For those keeping mantises as pets, understanding do praying mantis eat spiders has practical implications. Pet mantises thrive on a diet similar to what they eat in the wild .

Feeding by Life Stage

Young nymphs need tiny prey like fruit flies, aphids, or pinhead crickets . As they grow through successive molts, they can handle larger prey. Adult mantises can take crickets, roaches, flies, moths, grasshoppers, and other appropriately sized insects .

You can offer spiders to your pet mantis, and they will likely be eagerly accepted. However, be cautious about collecting spiders from the wild, as they may carry parasites or have been exposed to pesticides that could harm your mantis . It's safer to stick with commercially raised feeder insects.

Feeding Frequency

Feed your mantis every 1 to 4 days, depending on its size and condition . A well-fed mantis will have a rounded abdomen. Remove any uneaten prey after an hour to prevent stress to your mantis .

Important Warning

When feeding any prey that might fight back, including large spiders, supervise the feeding to ensure your mantis doesn't get injured. The mantis's powerful forelegs usually prevent this, but caution is wise .

The Free Praying Mantis Home Care Guide PDF provides detailed feeding recommendations for mantises at every life stage.

Garden Implications: Mantises as Natural Pest Control

Understanding do praying mantis eat spiders helps gardeners appreciate the role these insects play in the ecosystem. Mantises are generalist predators that will consume a wide variety of garden insects . This includes many pests like aphids, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and flies .

However, there's an important caveat. Because mantises are not selective, they also eat beneficial insects including bees, butterflies, and other pollinators . They also eat spiders, which themselves are beneficial predators in the garden. So while mantises do contribute to pest control, they are not a targeted solution and their overall impact on garden pest populations may be neutral .

If you want mantises in your garden for their fascination value and general predatory activity, they can be wonderful additions. Just don't expect them to eliminate specific pest problems while leaving beneficial insects untouched. For more on creating a balanced garden ecosystem, the Free Praying Mantis Home Care Guide PDF offers excellent guidance.

Conclusion: Spiders Are on the Menu

So, do praying mantis eat spiders? The evidence is clear and overwhelming: yes, praying mantises regularly eat spiders as part of their varied carnivorous diet . These remarkable predators are equipped with specialized adaptations—lightning-fast strikes, powerful spined forelegs, excellent 3D vision, and strong mandibles—that make them formidable hunters capable of subduing even dangerous prey like spiders .

Let's review the key points about mantis predation on spiders:

Yes, mantises definitely eat spiders, along with a wide variety of other insects and small animals
Their hunting adaptations—speed, grip, vision, and powerful jaws—give them an advantage over spiders
Size matters—larger mantises are more capable of taking on substantial spiders
The relationship isn't one-sided—spiders can also prey on mantises in certain circumstances
Pet mantises will eat spiders, though commercially raised feeder insects are safer
Spider mites are too small to be suitable mantis prey

The praying mantis reminds us that nature is full of fascinating predator-prey relationships. These insects, with their patient hunting style and formidable adaptations, sit near the top of the garden food chain—and spiders are just one of many creatures on their menu. The next time you see a mantis in your garden, appreciate it for what it is: one of nature's most efficient predators, equally capable of catching a fly, a cricket, or even a spider many times its size.

We hope this guide has answered your questions about mantis diet and their relationship with spiders. To continue learning about these incredible insects and how to support them in your garden, we invite you to download the Free Praying Mantis Home Care Guide PDF today. It's packed with expert information on mantis biology, behavior, and feeding. And if you're ready to welcome these fascinating predators into your garden—where they can hunt spiders and other pests—click here to Get Free Praying Mantis (no shipping cost) and start observing their remarkable hunting behaviors firsthand. Whether in your garden or as a pet, mantises will enrich your connection to the natural world.