- A new study documents the traditional consumption of the Indian black earth tiger spider, collected by the Rabha community from sal forests in Assam.
- While agriculture is practised by a majority of Rabhas, fishing, weaving, livestock rearing and the collection of forest resources are also integral to their livelihoods. The traditional consumption of the spider is a longstanding cultural practice that has been passed over generations.
- Systematic studies on the consumption of arachnids remains limited in India and beyond, with little knowledge on populations, nutrient composition and ecology.
In the forest-fringe villages of Kamrup (rural) district, Assam, the emergence of a large, endemic tarantula signals the arrival of a seasonal food for the Rabha community. The Rabhas, also known as Ravas, are an Indigenous community that predominantly reside in Goalpara and Kamrup districts in western Assam, along with smaller settlements in other parts of Assam, Meghalaya and West Bengal.
A new study published in Proceedings of the Zoological Society documents the community’s consumption of the Indian black earth tiger spider (Lyrognathus crotalus). Locally known as bhaluk makara, it is collected from April to June every year, when they are observed by the Rabhas to be most abundant.
Researchers Jyotiprakash Boro, Kuldeep Bora, Chandramita Boro and Samir Terdalkar conducted fieldwork between April and June 2025, interviewing 34 community members in and around Mouman village, including elders and spider collectors.
Collecting spiders for a diverse diet
The spiders are collected during three to four days a month during the pre-monsoon months and occasionally at other times of the year, depending on availability. A collection trip can yield about 20 to 30 spiders.
Collectors locate the spiders by finding their burrows in near forests, particularly those associated with sal (Shorea robusta) trees. They either carefully dig them out or insert a wooden stick into the burrow to encourage the spider to emerge.
Taxonomic research describes L. crotalus as a burrowing tarantula that constructs simple, tubular, flare-mouthed burrows using surrounding organic debris and vegetation. Adult female burrows tend to be J-shaped, lined with silk and extend to an enlarged chamber.
Once collected, the spiders are washed and soaked repeatedly in hot water before being fried in mustard oil with salt and garlic powder. The spider is eaten whole, usually with locally prepared rice beer. This preparation method has been passed down through generations, according to the study.
Rice is a staple for the Rabhas, along with fish, meat, vegetables and wild edible plants. A 2024 ethnobotanical study in Goalpara district documented 51 species of wild edible plants used by Rabhas, offering a glimpse into their knowledge of local biodiversity and natural resources.
A tale as old as time
While agriculture is practised by a majority of Rabhas, fishing, weaving, livestock rearing and the collection of forest resources are also integral to their livelihoods. Their settlements are often situated near forests, rivers, streams and wetlands, according to the researchers.
The species was described from Assam in 1895. Rabha elders, however, say the practice predates its scientific documentation by generations.
“The traditional consumption of the spider is a longstanding cultural practice that has been passed down orally from generation to generation. [The spider] was regularly collected and eaten by our parents and grandparents as a seasonal delicacy,” said Bhupen Rabha, a village elder.
The tradition continues among younger members of the community, according to collectors.
“Young people continue the tradition today. Harvesting these burrowing spiders from the fringes of sal forests during the pre-monsoon months of April and May remains a highly active seasonal event,” said Rohini Kumar Nongbag, an experienced spider collector.
“For us, the spiders are both a local delicacy and a kind of rite of passage. We enjoy going out together, finding the burrows and sharing the experience of collecting and eating them,” said Ashok Rabha, a spider collector in his early 20s.
A wider tradition in the Northeast
Researchers emphasise that the practice may not necessarily be prevalent across the entire Rabha community, and largely applies to the villages and households studied. However, spider consumption is not unique to the Rabhas.
A study published earlier this year documented the consumption of two orb-weaver spiders, Nephila pilipes and Trichonephila clavata, among Indigenous communities in Nagaland. Both are locally known as ‘siyankyü’ in the Lotha Naga language.
Researchers led by zoologist Lobeno Mozhui of Nagaland University found that the spiders are particularly preferred in October and November, when their abdomens are considered plump and the spiders are described as having a creamy, nutty flavour after cooking.
The orb-weavers are prepared by removing their heads and legs, washing and soaking them in hot water, and cooking them with oil, salt and ingredients such as ginger, chilli, bamboo shoot or sumac. The cooked spiders are consumed as a meat substitute.
The study found that the knowledge of spider collection and consumption is passed on orally. It also noted earlier ethnographic records of spider consumption among Naga communities.
In the case of L. crotalus, while it is regarded by Rabhas as a nutritious seasonal food, the study does not establish its nutritional composition. Claims about its protein or micronutrient content therefore remain based on local perception rather than scientific testing. The researchers also found no reported medicinal or therapeutic use among respondents.
Scientists have documented spider consumption in several parts of Asia, Africa and elsewhere, but systematic research remains limited.
A conservation question to be answered
The tarantula study does not establish that its collection is threatening the species. Community members generally perceive the local population as stable; some collectors say their observations over several decades have not indicated a decline.
“We perceive the local spider population as stable and just as common today as it was in the past,” said Manoj Rabha, a spider collector who has been foraging since 12 years. “An experienced collector can still successfully harvest up to 30 spiders in a single foraging trip,” he added.
However, local perceptions of abundance are not a substitute for a scientific population assessment.
“The extent of harvesting of the spider remains unclear, as are its abundance and the potential conservation implications of collecting it. We have not independently assessed their abundance or their population status,” said Jyotiprakash Boro, a wildlife biologist and research scholar at Fergusson College, Pune, who conducted field surveys for the study.
Tarantulas can be vulnerable to excessive collection, particularly among species that are characterised by slow growth, delayed maturity or restricted distribution, like some Neoheterophrictus spiders whose populations have declined in part due to collection for the pet trade. The concern is not that the Rabha practice has been observed to be unsustainable, but that its ecological impact is yet be assessed.
The researchers call for further research into the species’ ecology, population dynamics, taxonomy, nutritional composition and conservation status.
Banner image: L. crotalus. Image by Jyotiprakash Boro.
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