Spiders' stomach contents can reveal which insects and animals are living around them

Wolf spider on white background. Image Credit: Philip N. Cohen/Wikipedia A study published in ‘Experimental and Applied Entomology’ has explored how spiders could tell what animals are living around them by examining traces of prey DNA left inside their bodies. The research tested how ‘reliable prey DNA’ could be found in wolf spiders after feeding and how long that genetic evidence remained detectable. The experiments showed that DNA from some prey could still be detected several days after a meal, although the chances fell as digestion progressed. The findings suggest that spiders could become useful biological samplers for studying food webs and the small creatures living in an area. At the same time, the research shows why timing and laboratory methods matter when scientists use a spider’s stomach contents as a window into their surroundings and nearby ecosystems too.Scientists can now identify a spider’s prey by analysing DNA from its bodySpiders are predators, so every meal can leave behind a small genetic record of what they have eaten. Instead of trying to observe every tiny insect in a habitat, scientists can examine the DNA remaining in a spider after it has consumed prey...