In What Ways Can Spiders Die? (All The Possibilities Covered)

Have you ever wondered, in what ways spiders can die? I was asking myself the same question and started doing research online to find out. Pretty fast I found out that the possibilities are literally endless but in this article, I’ll do my absolute best to cover all the possibilities that I was able to find and I’ll also share different scenarios that I can think of myself. Once I’ve informed you about all the possible ways a spider can die, I’ll then give you answers to questions that I had next and at the end, I’ll share three more related questions, so make sure you keep on reading!

In what ways can spiders die? The different possibilities are endless. Here are all the possibilities that I was able to find and think of:

When you drown the spider.
After a female spider has laid her eggs.
When it gets too hot for the spider.
When it gets too cold for the spider.
When they lose a fight with another spider.
When they’ve lost too many legs.
When they die in the egg sac.
When they are underdeveloped once they come out of the egg sac.
When an object or living being squashes it.
When they get dehydrated.
When they can’t catch any prey.
When they get stuck and can’t get out.
When they run into their natural enemies.
When the spider is old.
When the spider gets set on fire.
When the spider falls.
The male spider can die after mating.
When they get trapped in your spider traps.
When you remove the food supply in your house and they can’t get out.
When you vacuum them up.
Electric shocks can kill spiders.
Various sprays can kill them.
Various liquids can kill them.
When you suffocate them.
If the spider would be sent to space.
They can die under a magnifying glass.
They can die from different powders.
They can die from white vinegar.
Citric acid can kill spiders.
They can die from different essential oils.
They can die of fright.
Salt can kill spiders.

1. When you drown the spider

Drowning a spider is a cruel thing but very effective as well because spiders need to breathe to survive just like humans do. Common ways people drown spiders is by flushing them through their toilets, washing them through their sink, or by throwing water on the spider which would be equal to a human getting hit by a tsunami. Most of the time not that much water is needed to drown the spider as most spiders won’t be able to swim that well and will get into trouble quite fast especially when they’re tiny.

I don’t recommend you choose this option though if you want to get rid of a spider. It’s a cruel way and I’m sure you wouldn’t wish anything like it upon yourself.

2. After a female spider has laid her eggs

For some female spider species, it is natural to die after they’ve laid their eggs, which is intended to give their young a better chance of survival by eating the mother spider. It can however also occur that the female spider suddenly dies after giving birth without having had any intentions to do so behind it. Also, the garden spider is an example of a spider that often dies after it has made an egg sac, this is just a natural occurrence though. You should also keep in mind that reproducing is the ultimate goal of every spider which is achieved once the egg sac has been produced. Also, that the female spider has to use a lot of her resources to produce an egg sac which is another major reason why female spiders sometimes die without having had the intentions to do so.

3. When it gets too hot for the spider

Spiders can just like human beings die when it gets too hot for them. Too hot for spiders would be above 43.3 Celsius as this is the number where different spider species start to die because of it. There are however also existing spider species that can survive temperatures until 53 Celsius which is pretty incredible if you’d ask me.

4. When it gets too cold for the spider

Spiders can also just like humans die of colder temperatures even though they are cold-blooded animals. In general, spiders start to die when the temperatures drop below -5 Celsius, and even if they would still survive this temperature, they would still have a hard time surviving as many insects (their beloved prey) won’t survive these kinds of temperatures.

5. When they lose a fight with another spider

Every time a spider gets entangled in a fight with another spider, it is running the risk of dying. Throughout their lifetime it can happen that they either run into a decent amount of enemy spiders or that they won’t run into any (if, for example, the spider never leaves its web). Another cool fact though is that spiders can scent other spiders which makes running into each other an even more rare occurrence. This is a skill that was developed through evolution so that spiders can put their focus more on hunting insects instead of fighting against other spider species and risking a potential 50/50 odds of survival.

6. When they’ve lost too many legs

Spiders can, unlike many other animals that live on this earth, amputate their legs whenever the situation asks for it. If, for example, an enemy has the spider by its leg and the spider has a hard time getting the upper hand in the fight then the spider can amputate that leg himself, a pretty awesome ability if you’d ask me. That is also why you can find spiders out in nature that have 6 legs instead of the initial 8 legs that they were born with.

Apart from it being an awesome survival mechanism, it also has its limitations, for example, when the spider only has two legs left after having had many difficult fights. It won’t be able to even hold up its body normally with only two legs and is then also doomed to die quite shortly after.

Check out the video below of a spider with 6 legs.

7. When they die in the egg sac

It can occur that spiderlings that are still in development within the egg sac suddenly die because they, for example, weren’t strong enough. It is also a great thing that many spiderlings will come out of each egg sac so that the odds of at least some spiderlings surviving are quite high.

8. When they are underdeveloped once they come out of the egg sac

It can happen that once spiders have come out of the egg sac that they are still underdeveloped and a little bit later still die because they weren’t strong enough to stay alive. It is therefore once again a good thing that a lot of spiderlings will come out of the egg sack so that at least a few will have the ability to take life on.

in-what-ways-can-spiders-die-underdeveloped

9. When an object or living being squashes it

There are way too many objects that can squash a spider. What comes to mind is our human feed, a decently sized rock, the wheel of a car, a chunk of wood, a large stone, and it goes on and on. A spider has a lot to fear when it’s on the move, so maybe it would be better for the spider to just make a web and stay in it and if that doesn’t work just move on to another spot with more potential.

10. When they get dehydrated

Water is for spiders way more frequently required than having a good supply of food coming in. What’s great though is that they don’t need a pool full of water either to survive but that they will be just fine when they’re in an environment where the humidity levels are decent. In general, spiders drink very slowly and catch their required water out of the air when the humidity is high enough. Besides catching the required water out of the air, another frequently used way of hydrating themselves is through the water that is already in their caught prey. So you could say that whilst they eat their prey that they just like us human beings love to have some fine wine with that meal.

11. When they can’t catch any prey

All spiders are incredible hunters but that doesn’t mean that there can’t be any dry streaks. It can, for example, happen that the spider in question has chosen a spot that isn’t performing well or that the spider has had many unlucky moments and was unable to successfully catch prey for a longer period. It probably wouldn’t surprise you that if the spider is unable to catch prey for months in a row that it will eventually die of starvation. Thankfully, though this situation doesn’t occur that often because spiders can survive without food for decent amounts of time. It is way more likely that a spider dies of dehydration than that it would die of hunger.

12. When they get stuck and can’t get out

Apart from getting their legs stuck, spiders can also get their body stuck between different objects. In the case that its legs got stuck, it was able to amputate them but once their body gets stuck there is no way out. Another example would be when you catch them with a bottle, the spider wouldn’t be able to find a way out, and if you happen to forget that the spider was in there then you can be sure that the spider will not survive for long as there won’t be high humidity levels within the bottle and also not much fresh oxygen will be coming in.

You already know a bunch of different ways that a spider can come to the end of its life but did you know that spiders can play dead as well to give themselves a better chance to survive. Check out the article “How Do I Know For Sure That A Spider Is Dead Or Playing Dead?” to find out more.

13. When they run into their natural enemies

A spider has many natural enemies which are, for example, the praying mantis, various species of wasps, lizards, birds, fish, centipedes, monkeys, other spiders, scorpions, and not to forget scared human beings. Against all these different animals that I’ve just mentioned, spiders are going to have it tough when it comes to a fight.

It’s a dangerous world out there for our spider friends so I would say let’s not make it even harder for them, by us wanting to kill them as well.

14. When the spider is old

If the spider happens to get to a very old age (which is rare for spiders) it will certainly die at some point. The oldest spider that people know to have lived reached the age of 43 which shows that spiders can probably even get older than this but when you look at the dangers that every single spider has to face, this number becomes very hard to achieve for every spider species. The best bet for the spider would be to be a pet. As spider pets don’t have to face many dangers and get food from their pet owners occasionally.

15. When the spider gets set on fire

This is another aspect that the spider will not survive as pretty much no animal on this earth can survive being set on fire. Make sure you don’t ever do something like this because it’s a terrific thing to do to any living thing.

16. When the spider falls

Tiny spiders won’t have to worry about potentially falling to their deaths when they get dropped from high altitudes. But spiders that are the size of about a mouse and larger will have a whole different experience and will either badly injure themselves or in the worst-case scenario, die. This happens because the terminal velocity (maximum falling speed) of spiders that are either close to the same size of a mouse or larger will be high enough to either badly wound or kill the spider. For tiny spiders, on the other hand, the terminal velocity will be too low to receive any fall damage.

17. The male spider can die after mating

Male spiders can occasionally become prey for their female mating partner if the female spider decides to take him for dinner during or after mating. This might sound like an unfair thing but it is once again a completely natural occurrence as survival for the female spider is a must because she is in the end the one that is responsible for bringing those new spiderlings to earth.

Check the video below if you want to see a male spider become a meal to a female spider after mating.

18. When they get trapped in your spider traps

The most effective spider traps that are out there are glue traps but if you’re looking to catch only one spider that you can’t see any more then this won’t be a good option to go for as glue traps are mainly used to stay on top of spider infestations. And even in the case of a spider infestation in your house, I would not go for the glue trap route and will probably get expert help on this matter. Spiders can die of glue traps though if you let the spider be trapped for too long.

19. When you remove the food supply in your house and they can’t get out

Spiders that get trapped in your house because you, for example, decided to go on vacation for a few months will have a rough time surviving if there aren’t any insects coming into the house. Now, most of the time insects will find their way in even when doors and windows are closed but everything may be closed off, and then the spider won’t be able to survive after a few months have passed.

20. When you vacuum them up

Spiders that you vacuum up will eventually all die of dehydration or die from the trauma of ricocheting through the machine’s tube. Also, many people want to know if the vacuumed spider can get out once the vacuum cleaner is turned off and the answer is that it is possible if the spider gets lucky enough to find its way out (which is hard on itself). The spider’s chance of getting out also increases or decreases depending on how full the vacuum cleaner is as the spider can easily find its way out when the vacuum cleaner is not that full than if it is close to being full or full. The more stuff the spider will have to crawl its way through, the harder it is to get out.

21. Electric shocks can kill spiders

Just like pretty much any living thing on this earth will die to high voltage electric shocks. It is the same story for the spider. Spiders probably don’t need that high of a voltage to die as they are pretty small animals and can therefore withstand less high amounts.

22. Various sprays can kill them

Some deodorants can kill spiders because these deodorants contain certain chemical compounds that are somewhat insecticidal.

There are also a ton of different DIY sprays you can make like, for example, a spray that contains white vinegar. Just add the white vinegar together with some water and start spraying it directly on the spiders you want to get rid of. This is also a great option if you have pets as sprays that are available in shops can also be dangerous for your beloved pets.

The chemicals that are present in hair sprays can also kill spiders as larger amounts or maybe even smaller amounts will bring lethal results.

There are also a ton of sprays you can buy online that will do the trick as well (also called insecticides).

Check the video below if you want to know what happens to spiders when you spray them.

23. Various liquids can kill them

There are also a ton of liquids out there that can indeed kill spiders. Examples of these liquids are alcohol, bleach, and Cynoff EC. It’s once again not something I would recommend though as spiders are in general benefits to us as they kill mosquitos and other insects that can be annoying to us. Some spiders can be dangerous to us, like the Black Widow spider but still, then I would recommend you use some of the spider-friendly options like a spider catcher.

24. When you suffocate them

Spiders need to breathe in oxygen to survive, so when you put them, for example, under a bottle for a long amount of time without letting any new oxygen enter then the spider will suffocate once it runs out of oxygen. So, make sure that once you’ve caught a spider in a bottle or cup that you don’t forget to release the spider back into the wild cause you could accidentally kill the spider.

25. If the spider would be sent to space

Another example of suffocation is when the spider would be sent into space as there is no oxygen for the spider to breathe in there. So, it would be able to nicely float there but it wouldn’t be able to do that alive.

26. They can die under a magnifying glass

With a magnifying glass, you’ll be able to burn spiders to death which is absolutely something that you should not do as you’re burning them alive. It might seem like a fun thing to do to some people but I can assure you that it is a cruel thing.

27. They can die from different powders

There are different powders on the market that can kill spiders as well like, for example, “Diatomaceous Earth”. The powder cuts open the spider’s legs and abdomen which would result in certain death for the spider. It takes a little work and time to set it up though as you would have to sprinkle the powder at spots where the spider either enters or leaves your house. A good thing is though that the powder will last for long as long as the Diatomaceous Earth will stay dry. Before you apply the powder though make sure that the surfaces you’re applying it on are clean and that you have gloves on. If you happen to have high humidity levels in your house then make sure you reapply the powder from time to time.

28. They can die from white vinegar

White vinegar contains acetic acid which is a deadly poison to spiders. All you will need to start killing spiders with white vinegar, is the white vinegar, water, and a spraying bottle. Mix them all and start spraying directly on spiders which will give the desired result. You can also decide to spray the made mix at places where you know spiders crawl often as they wouldn’t want to pass by that spot anymore once you’ve sprayed there. Also, you should repeat this at least two times a week. Personally, though, I’m not a big fan of killing spiders but if you don’t see any other way then this could be a possibility for you.

29. Citric acid can kill spiders

Small doses of citric acid will not kill a spider but large doses will because spiders are overly sensitive to citric acid. Think twice before you’re thinking of killing a spider though because there are probably some more spider-friendly options out there for you to choose like putting it outside by capturing it in a bottle.

30. They can die from different essential oils

Essential oils don’t necessarily have to kill spiders at all times. It solely depends on how much of the essential oils you use when you’re trying to get rid of them. What’s important to remember though is that different essential oils are natural repellents to spiders. Examples of these essential oils are coconut oil, eucalyptus oil, citrus oil, tea tree oil, peppermint oil, rose oil, citronella oil, cinnamon oil, and lavender oil.

31. They can die of fright

It can happen that if a spider’s instinct constantly tells it that enemies are close by that the spider will stop eating, lose weight, and eventually die. This has been tested and you can find the article about it here if you’re interested.

32. Salt can kill spiders

You probably wouldn’t think so but salt is a natural poison to spiders and mixing salt with water and then spraying it on spiders will kill them. Besides, it is also a good option if you want to get rid of spider’s nests. All in all, though, take the more spider-friendly approach as the spiders will all thank you for it if you do.

What are the possibilities that won’t kill a spider?

There are many occurrences possible that won’t kill a spider. When you, for example, vacuum the spider up then it can still survive if the circumstances are right for the spider. Also, small doses of citric acid won’t kill a spider either when larger doses probably will.

So, when you look at it in this way then you can see that there are many different situations possible where the spider won’t die. You can be sure that the spider in question will do everything he/she can to survive.

How do spiders die naturally?

If the spider dies of old age is the first one and the second one is if the spider happens to be a male spider and gets eaten by a female spider it just mated with. The female eating the male is a natural cause of death as the female will have a higher chance to survive.

Now, it doesn’t happen often though that spiders die of old age as they have a ton of natural enemies that will happily eat the spider for dinner. If the spider is raised in captivity then it can get to a very old age if it doesn’t run into health problems during its lifetime.

Do wolf spiders die after laying eggs?

It isn’t a common occurrence for a female wolf spider to die after she has laid eggs as female wolf spiders typically carry their young on their backs for several days after they’ve come out of the egg sac to give them a better chance of survival.

It still can happen though but if the situation does occur then you can be sure that the female spider didn’t sacrifice itself for her spiderlings but just because of a common disease or perhaps even because of old age.

How long does it take for spiders to die?

A spider can live a long and happy life that can last for at least 43 years (as the oldest spider known to date has made it to this age until it probably got killed by a wasp). Every spider will run into different challenges though and that’s why the lifespan of spiders will differ.

There are some situations though that can extend the spider’s life automatically. For example, when the spider is raised in captivity (because its lifespan would be longer as it won’t run into any enemies whilst being in captivity), that it’s a female spider (as female spiders generally will live longer than male spiders), what the condition of the spider is (as every individual spider is either going to be more healthy or less healthy than another), and the number of roadblocks the spider hits throughout its life so, for example, in how many fights it gets throughout its life, and what kind of toll these fights take to the spider’s body.

If spiders are unlucky then they will not even reach their first birthday, or maybe not even survive their first day.

Conclusion

You know by now that there are many different ways a spider can come to the end of its life and that there are also different situations where it won’t die from. Keep in mind that killing a spider is never a good decision to make and that you should always capture the spider and put it outside if you want to get rid of it.