Listen to spiders with their legs: sensational discovery!

Listen to spiders with their legs: sensational discovery!

Karlsruhe, Deutschland - What does the domestic spider web makes special? Quite simply: the fine threads and the even finer senses of the little living beings. Spiders that can often be found in the house and garden have not only conquered a place in nature, but also in the hearts of some people. Because, as many know, there are also likeable spider journeyman, such as the Aragog from Harry Potter. But that's not all we should know about the little crawling animals. A current study shows that spiders go very own ways while listening to their own ways that do without conventional ears.

How does "hearing" work? According to ka-news , some spider types can perceive sound waves over the sensitive hair on their legs. An examination by Paul Shamble from Cornell University brought to light that jumping spiders can take up to three meters of acoustic signals. The crucial point: They react to frequencies between 80 and 130 Hertz, which are typical of many flying insects - sovereign for survival under wild conditions!

How do you really hear spiders?

It is astonishing which methods have used spiders to perceive their environment. They have no ears in the conventional sense - no ear cups like us humans - but that doesn't mean they are deaf. The jumping spiders and also kescher spiders (Deinopi's spinosa) use the fine hairs on their legs to absorb vibrations and noises in their surroundings. The latest studies show impressive results: With a sound pressure of 65 decibels, noises caused the spiders to quieten. But when the hairs are moistened, the reaction fizzles out. Bridge cross spiders (Larinioides Sclopetarius) also use your network as a kind of acoustic eardrum to recognize sound waves and locate the source.

It is particularly exciting that the performance of their “ears” goes far beyond what has been assumed so far. It was thought that they could only hear noise from a few centimeters. But Shamble and his team find that the North American jumping spiders react to sound even at five meters away. They also report a surprising brain activity of the spiders in unexpected noises.

The fascinating spider life

Despite their small size, spiders are complex creatures. They not only act instinctively, they also seem to show amazing behaviors that have not yet been fully researched. According to National Geographic , the knowledge of the sensory skills of the spiders could even contribute to the development of new technologies. Imagine microphones or smart recording devices with eight “legs”-that would not only provide tonal innovations, but also improve understanding of noise sources and direction.

Surprisingly, spiders attract deep frequencies, such as those who start from flying slip wasps, while higher tones often frighten them. In the absence of a clear understanding of their environment, they perceive noises as "noise", which means that we humans appear more for them as a accumulation of disturbing sound expressions.

When spiders are sensitized, this can offer both challenges and fascinating insights into our understanding of the wildlife. How does it sound when you watch the acoustic signals of these little masters in spiders? The key to many questions could actually be on their legs between the fine hairs. Who would have thought that this microscopically small aspect could expand our perspective to the world of spiders? Take a look around and remember: sometimes there is more in the little things than you may believe at first.

For more information about the sensitive crawling animals, it is also worth taking a look at Spectrum , where more exciting details can be found about the fascinating life of the spiders.