Arachnophagy (/əˈræknɒfədʒi/, from Greek ἀράχνη aráchnē, 'spider', and φαγεῖν phagein, 'to eat') describes a feeding behaviour that includes arachnids. Aside from non-human creatures, the term can also refer to the practice of eating arachnids among humans.

In non-humans

Arachnophagy is widespread among many animals, especially reptiles and birds. For example, arachnophagy is described among Philippine scops owls that feed on spider species such as '' Heteropoda venatoria.''

In humans

Like the human consumption of insects ( anthropo-entomophagy), arachnids as well as

myriapods Myriapods () are the members of subphylum Myriapoda, containing arthropods such as millipedes and centipedes. The group contains about 13,000 species, all of them terrestrial. The fossil record of myriapods reaches back into the late Silurian, ...

also have a history of traditional consumption, either as food or medicine. Arachnids include

spiders Spiders (order Araneae) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, chelicerae with fangs generally able to inject venom, and spinnerets that extrude silk. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species di ...

scorpions Scorpions are predatory arachnids of the order Scorpiones. They have eight legs, and are easily recognized by a pair of grasping pincers and a narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back and always end ...

and mites (incl.

ticks Ticks (order Ixodida) are parasitic arachnids that are part of the mite superorder Parasitiformes. Adult ticks are approximately 3 to 5 mm in length depending on age, sex, species, and "fullness". Ticks are external parasites, living by ...

) that are consumed by humans worldwide.E.M. Costa-Neto, N.T. Grabowski (27 November 2020): ''Edible arachnids and myriapods worldwide – updated list, nutritional profile and food hygiene implications''. In: Journal of Insects as Food and Feed: 0 (0), pp. 1-20. doi: https://doi.org/10.3920/JIFF2020.0046 Fried spider, primarily tarantula species, is a regional snack in

Cambodia Cambodia (; also Kampuchea ; km, កម្ពុជា, UNGEGN: ), officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia, spanning an area of , bordered by Thailan ...

. In Mexico, tarantula have been offered in tacos, with a splash of guacamole. However, Mexican law forbids the sale of many species of tarantula for human consumption, and vendors offering this delicacy have been shut down by authorities. In Venezuela, the Piaroa people have an history in eating the

Goliath birdeater The Goliath birdeater (''Theraphosa blondi'') belongs to the tarantula family Theraphosidae. Found in northern South America, it is the largest spider in the world by mass () and body length (up to ), and second to the giant huntsman spider by ...

tarantula (''Theraphosa blondi'').NBC News/Beth Greenwald (27 Octobre 2011):
15 insects you won't believe are edible
'. Fried scorpion is traditionally eaten in Shandong, China. Other countries include Vietnam and Thailand. Milbenkäse is a German speciality cheese that is exposed to

cheese mite Cheese mites (for instance '' Tyrophagus casei'' or other species) are mites that are used to produce such cheeses as ', Cantal and Mimolette. The action of the living mites on the surface of these cheeses contributes to the flavor and gives them ...

s during ripening, and on consumption often still has mites attached to the rind.{{cite web, url=https://www.slowfood.de/was-wir-tun/arche_des_geschmacks/die_arche_passagiere/wuerchwitzer_milbenkaese, title=Würchwitzer Milbenkäse, website=Slow Food Deutschland e.V.

References

Diets Arachnids as food