Curious Folks Ask 2: 188 Real Answers on Our Fellow Creatures, Our Planet, and Beyond

Chapter 1. Creepy crawlies

Eight-legged epicure

Do some spiders trap and feed on mosquitoes? Considering that the female mosquito, after feeding, would be a great source of protein, it would seem a good target. Or have mosquitoes evolved an evasive technique for spider webs?

Just as we humans have individual, sometimes unusual, tastes—such as liverwurst, Jell-O with shredded carrots, and stinky cheeses—our eight-legged friends have theirs. Although spiders mostly dine on whatever potential prey comes their way, some spiders find mosquitoes particularly pleasing to the palate.

One species, a jumping spider from East Africa, seems to have a special preference for female mosquitoes that have had a recent blood meal. In laboratory studies, ...