Strategies
Orb weavers (Argiope, Araneus) typically overwinter as eggs in silk sacs; the adults die at first hard frost.
Wolf spiders, sac spiders, and many house-associated species overwinter as adults or large juveniles in sheltered cracks, leaf litter, or inside structures.
References
- [1]Cold tolerance in arthropods - Journal of Insect Physiology. Accessed June 2026.
Related in Behavior
- Why spiders come indoorsMost spiders found inside North American homes are house-adapted species that live their entire lives indoors.
- Are spiders aggressive?No spider species in North America is aggressive toward humans in the behavioral sense.
- Do spiders hunt in packs?With rare exceptions among a few tropical species (Anelosimus eximius), spiders are solitary predators.
- Ballooning: how spiderlings travelMany spiderlings disperse by releasing silk strands into rising air and being carried aloft, sometimes for hundreds of kilometers.
- Courtship and mating behaviorSpider courtship is highly species-specific and often involves vibratory signaling, visual displays, or chemical cues.
- Prey capture strategiesPrey capture in spiders ranges from passive web ambush to active visual pursuit.