What is Digestion??
Digestion is the process in which food is broken down chemically and physically into smaller components so our body can use it to make ATP (or energy). We digest because food molecules are too big to pass through the cell membrane. An example of this is starch; it needs to digest into glucose or else we wouldn't be able to take it in. In humans, the organ that is responsible for the absorption of products during digestion is the small intestine. The small intestine is the area of nutrient absorption and where chemical digestion continues in the digestive system. The small intestine has small, finger-like projections called villi that absorb the nutrients from the foods we eat and sends them into capillaries which then transport them into the bloodstream. The bloodstream is how nutrients are transported through out the body and given to every organ; all the parts of your body need nutrients to function properly. An example of a nutrient during the digestive system is glucose, which undergoes the process of diffusion in the villi when being put into the bloodstream. Glucose is also used in cellular respiration, which is the process in which energy is stored in glucose and used to make energy rich ATP.
Digestion is the process in which food is broken down chemically and physically into smaller components so our body can use it to make ATP (or energy). We digest because food molecules are too big to pass through the cell membrane. An example of this is starch; it needs to digest into glucose or else we wouldn't be able to take it in. In humans, the organ that is responsible for the absorption of products during digestion is the small intestine. The small intestine is the area of nutrient absorption and where chemical digestion continues in the digestive system. The small intestine has small, finger-like projections called villi that absorb the nutrients from the foods we eat and sends them into capillaries which then transport them into the bloodstream. The bloodstream is how nutrients are transported through out the body and given to every organ; all the parts of your body need nutrients to function properly. An example of a nutrient during the digestive system is glucose, which undergoes the process of diffusion in the villi when being put into the bloodstream. Glucose is also used in cellular respiration, which is the process in which energy is stored in glucose and used to make energy rich ATP.
Wolf Spider Diet
Diet- Wolf Spiders are creatures that are distributed throughout all regions in the world except Antartica, so they eat whatever climate specific insect or reptile they can find. Yes, you read that right. Wolf Spiders can eat creatures that are larger or just as large as themselves. Usually, Wolf Spiders eat insects such as beetles and grasshoppers, but they can also eat bigger animals such as frogs and even their own species! Yes, its the truth. WOLF SPIDERS ARE CANNIBALS!!!! Some spiders eat their prey pre orally, meaning they digest their meals outside their stomach. Some spiders will chew their prey and cover it with enzymes before swallowing, while other spiders might bite their prey an insert the enzymes before they eat it. Spiders have a long tube that leads from their mouth to their anus and have three main body parts that help them digest their food: the foregut, midgut, and hind gut. The foregut breaks up the food, the midgut releases enzymes, and the hind gut reabsorbs water and salts. [1]
Diet- Wolf Spiders are creatures that are distributed throughout all regions in the world except Antartica, so they eat whatever climate specific insect or reptile they can find. Yes, you read that right. Wolf Spiders can eat creatures that are larger or just as large as themselves. Usually, Wolf Spiders eat insects such as beetles and grasshoppers, but they can also eat bigger animals such as frogs and even their own species! Yes, its the truth. WOLF SPIDERS ARE CANNIBALS!!!! Some spiders eat their prey pre orally, meaning they digest their meals outside their stomach. Some spiders will chew their prey and cover it with enzymes before swallowing, while other spiders might bite their prey an insert the enzymes before they eat it. Spiders have a long tube that leads from their mouth to their anus and have three main body parts that help them digest their food: the foregut, midgut, and hind gut. The foregut breaks up the food, the midgut releases enzymes, and the hind gut reabsorbs water and salts. [1]
Methods of Obtaining Food
The Wolf Spider is not like many other spiders in that it doesn't spin a web that traps their prey. Wolf Spiders are more active in getting their food in that they hunt for their prey themselves; instead of their food coming to them they go to their food. There are two main ways that a Wolf Spider captures their prey:
1. Hiding while using their touch receptors to determine if prey is near
This is one the most amazing attributes of the Wold Spider. What they do is create a deep hole where they can wait for their prey, and when their receptors tell them an insect, for example, is close by, they prepare themselves and pounce when the insect is in close range to the hole. Using this method is effective because they hunt during the night so its hard for the insects to see but the wolf spider has eight eyes so it sees clearly. [2]
2. Playing a game of tag where the wolf spider is "it" and if he gets you, you die. Fun huh?
This is actually an accurate analogy though. Some Wolf Spiders get so hungry they can't wait for food so they chase around the insect or frog they want to eat until they catch them. Talk about serious hunger management issues... [3]
The Wolf Spider is not like many other spiders in that it doesn't spin a web that traps their prey. Wolf Spiders are more active in getting their food in that they hunt for their prey themselves; instead of their food coming to them they go to their food. There are two main ways that a Wolf Spider captures their prey:
1. Hiding while using their touch receptors to determine if prey is near
This is one the most amazing attributes of the Wold Spider. What they do is create a deep hole where they can wait for their prey, and when their receptors tell them an insect, for example, is close by, they prepare themselves and pounce when the insect is in close range to the hole. Using this method is effective because they hunt during the night so its hard for the insects to see but the wolf spider has eight eyes so it sees clearly. [2]
2. Playing a game of tag where the wolf spider is "it" and if he gets you, you die. Fun huh?
This is actually an accurate analogy though. Some Wolf Spiders get so hungry they can't wait for food so they chase around the insect or frog they want to eat until they catch them. Talk about serious hunger management issues... [3]
Body Structure
All spiders have a two segmented body with eight legs, spinnerets, and don't have a chewing mouth. The Wolf Spider specifically has eight eyes that are arranged in three rows: the lower row has four, the second row has two large eyes and they the top row has two more smaller eyes. The Wolf Spider also has Chelicerae which are jaws, that consist of two horizontal sharp fangs at the bottom. [4] Wolf Spiders do have venom and use it on their prey once they have them in their grasp. However when in contact with humans, they are non agressive but can bite if you provoke them too much.[5]
All spiders have a two segmented body with eight legs, spinnerets, and don't have a chewing mouth. The Wolf Spider specifically has eight eyes that are arranged in three rows: the lower row has four, the second row has two large eyes and they the top row has two more smaller eyes. The Wolf Spider also has Chelicerae which are jaws, that consist of two horizontal sharp fangs at the bottom. [4] Wolf Spiders do have venom and use it on their prey once they have them in their grasp. However when in contact with humans, they are non agressive but can bite if you provoke them too much.[5]