Meet the Wheel Spider That Rolls to Escape Predators

Quick Take

• Running away from a predator isn't always the smart move, and the wheel spider's escape strategy is something far more unexpected. See the rolling escape →
• There's a specific reason why this spider's getaway works every time, and that reason has nothing to do with speed. Discover why it works →
• A parasitic wasp has almost no chance once this spider triggers its escape, and the reason why will surprise you. See the wasp's dilemma →
• This spider only deploys its signature move as a last resort, and when it does the results are almost instant. Watch the last resort →

Spiders are some of the most diverse animals in nature. With so many species, each has its own unique survival strategy. The wheel spiders, as the name suggests, rolls away to defend itself. This Instagram post by @explainingnature shows this spider making its escape.

Why The Wheel Spider Rolls

Spiders are so diverse in appearance and behavior, but the wheel spider is easily one of the most interesting. A part of the huntsman spider family, they are specialized for the sandy deserts of the Erg Chebbi, a dune in southeast Morocco. These spiders are often difficult to see as they are nocturnal. To avoid the blazing heat of the sun, they spend their days buried underground, emerging at night to hunt. Some of their prey include moths, beetles, and other small insects. Rather than using a web, they rely on speed and stealth to stalk and pounce on their prey. Like almost all other spiders, they are venomous. While their venom is only mild to humans, it can be fatal to smaller prey. Wheel spiders truly adapted to their environment in one unique way: rolling down sand mounds.

While wheel spiders are amazing predators, they are also prey to desert insects such as parasitic pompilid wasps. Thankfully, wheel spiders have an amazing way to avoid predation: rolling away. Instead of simply running, they curl their legs in and roll down sand mounds at incredible speeds. They actively flip themselves downward and let gravity do the rest. It’s not an everyday behavior and is mostly reserved for a quick getaway. The reason why rolling away works so well is that it removes the spider from the predator’s line of vision. As seen in the video, when wheel spiders roll out of sight, the wasp simply loses interest and flies away, making their escape maneuver extremely effective.