Playing dead, also known as thanatosis or tonic immobility, is an ingenious defense mechanism used by some spiders to ward off predators and other threats. By feigning death, spiders are able to convince potential attackers that they are not worth the effort, allowing them to make a sneaky getaway once the coast is clear.

In this article, we’ll take a look at 8 of the most common spiders known to “play possum” when faced with danger. Understanding which spiders exhibit this behavior can help you identify the culprit if you ever catch a spider faking its own demise!

1. Wolf Spider

The wolf spider is a hairy brown spider reaching up to 1.5 inches in size. They are adept hunters with excellent eyesight and do not spin webs to catch prey. Instead they actively chase down smaller insects and other invertebrates on foot.

When confronted by a predator, the wolf spider will pull its legs in close to its body and roll over on its back, playing dead convincingly. They may remain in this catatonic state for up to an hour before cautiously getting back on their feet and scurrying away.

2. Orb Weaver Spiders

Orb weaver spiders construct beautiful, intricate webs using spider silk. When resting in the center of the web, they are vulnerable to attacks by predators able to avoid getting stuck in the sticky spirals.

If disturbed, orb weavers will let go and fall out of the web, pulling in their legs and playing dead once they hit the ground. This sudden change in posture and lack of movement can confuse predators long enough for them to lose interest.

3. Black Widow Spider

The female black widow is one of the most venomous spiders in North America. They are not overtly aggressive, but will bite if handled roughly or trapped against bare skin.

Rather than bite defensively, black widows use playing dead as their first line of defense. When threatened, they will retract their legs and remain still for minutes or hours. Their dramatic coloration with red hourglass markings on the underside of a shiny black abdomen seems to disappear when rolled over on their backs, helping sell the act.

4. Brown Recluse Spider

The brown recluse spider is often found in dark, secluded locations like attics and crawlspaces. Despite their reclusive nature, they will bite when pressed up against human skin, delivering a dangerous, necrotizing venom.

These spiders play dead when confronted with a threat or obstacle they cannot readily escape from. Their cryptic coloration and habit of drawing the legs in when feigning death allow them to blend into their surroundings for a stealthy getaway.

5. Jumping Spiders

Jumping spiders are compact, hairy spiders that actively hunt by jumping onto prey rather than building webs. Their large front eyes provide excellent vision used to accurately leap onto targets.

When jumping spiders lose their footing or fall, they will automatically curl up into a ball and play dead until they can safely get their bearings and leap to safety. This instinctual reaction likely helps them drop out of the line of fire of potential predators.

6. Cellar Spiders

Cellar spiders, also called daddy long legs spiders, are extremely common around homes. They build messy-looking webs in corners consisting of a tangled mass of non-sticky silk.

If disturbed, cellar spiders will vibrate violently in their webs for a few seconds before falling to the ground and drawing in their fragile legs to feign death. Their spindly appearance seems to disappear once balled up, helping them go undetected.

7. Huntsman Spiders

Huntsman spiders are speedy, hairy spiders that hunt down prey rather than building webs. They are adept climbers, often scaling walls and ceilings with ease.

When upside down, huntsman spiders will cling tightly so as not to fall. If they do lose their grip, they will reflexively curl up their legs and play dead, likely until they can safely grab onto another surface. Their camouflaged bodies help them resemble a clump of dirt or debris.

8. Fishing Spiders

Fishing spiders are chunky, brown spiders that live around water features and hunt aquatic insects and small fish. They do not build webs, instead remaining stationary on vegetation overhanging the water before ambushing prey.

If disturbed on their perches, fishing spiders will rapidly dive underwater and play dead until the perceived threat goes away. Their brown coloration helps them blend in with mud and algae at the bottom, selling the ruse. They obtain oxygen from an air bubble temporarily trapped against their underside.

Why Spiders Play Dead

Feigning death in spiders is typically an involuntary, reflexive response when faced with an attack or sudden danger. It helps spiders in several key ways:

• Confusion: By suddenly going still, spiders confuse potential predators that expect movement from live prey. The abrupt shift can interrupt their attack sequence.

• Camouflage: Many spiders rely on cryptic coloration to hide in plain sight when playing dead. Retracting the legs conceals their distinct spider shape.

• Playing it safe: Staying motionless may allow the spider to gauge if a perceived threat is gone before exposing itself again. It is better to err on the side of caution.

• Disinterest: Completely immobile prey often does not trigger a predator’s attack instinct. Motionless spiders seem to lose appeal as targets, so are ignored.

• Surprise counterattack: If movement resumes while being handled or consumed, the spider may be able to bite in self-defense if playing dead was unsuccessful.

How to Tell if a Spider is Really Dead

If you find a motionless spider curled up in a ball, how can you be sure it is genuinely dead rather than faking it? Here are a few ways to test if a spider is dead or just playing possum:

• Poke it gently: Use a long object like a pen or chopstick to prod the motionless spider. Live spiders will react and move if disturbed.

• Look for breathing: A magnifying glass may reveal subtle abdominal movements as the spider breathes. Dead spiders will remain completely still.

• Flip it over: Use an object to gently turn the spider on its back. Live spiders will usually uncurl and trying to flip back over.

• Check for fluid: A dead spider’s legs will appear dried out. Gently pressing the legs can cause fluid to leak from joints in a dead specimen.

• Look for desiccation: Over time, dead spiders begin to shrivel up as they dry out. A fresh corpse likely indicates a spider playing dead rather than one that died naturally.

• Monitor recovery time: A spider feigning death will revive and escape within a few hours at most. A longer period likely means the spider has genuinely perished.

With close observation and gentle handling, you can determine if that lifeless looking spider has actually kicked the bucket or is just playing opossum!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do some spiders play dead while others flee or fight?

Different spider species face different threats in their environment, driving the evolution of thanatosis or other defenses. Smaller spiders that rely on stealth and camouflage are more likely to play dead than large, hairy spiders able to intimidate predators. Web building spiders that fall out of their webs will also instinctively play dead.

Can you make a spider play dead by scaring it?

It is difficult to induce thanatosis intentionally, as it an involuntary reflex spiders do not control. Some spiders may play dead if abruptly prodded, dropped, or flipped onto their backs, but others will simply run away or attack. Excessive harassment can stress spiders and should be avoided.

Do pet spiders play dead?

Pet spiders may feign death if they lose their grip and fall while being handled. This reflex protects wild spiders from injury when falling from heights. Well-fed pet spiders are also known to play dead during periods of inactivity, especially if dehydrated. Misting the enclosure can often revive them.

How long do spiders stay in “death pose”?

Most spiders play dead for less than an hour, but some species like wolf spiders may hold still for multiple hours. The length depends on the persistence of the threat and the spider’s perception of danger. Continued motion nearby likely prolongs the catatonic state for safety.

Can spiders actually die from playing dead too long?

No, feigning death is not dangerous to spiders even if maintained for a lengthy period. Unlike held breath or mammal fainting, the spider remains fully functional while immobile and can revive itself and breathe normally once threat has passed.

The Takeaway

Thanatosis gives spiders a chance to escape dangerous scenarios that would otherwise result in severe injury or death. This ingenious adaptations allows many spiders to coexist closely with potential predators much larger than themselves. Now that you know which spiders are most likely to play dead and why they do it, you can admire this clever survival strategy in action!