Can Jumping Spiders Be Trained?
WouterIf you are looking for an entertaining and interesting pet, jumping spiders can be a great choice. Typically, they hunt small insects, but they can also be fed fruit flies and pinhead crickets.
But can they be trained? Thankfully, scientists at the University of Manchester in England have managed to train a jumping spider to perform leaps on demand. In their study, they recorded the spider’s leaps using ultra-high-speed cameras. These videos were subsequently used to create a virtual 3D model of the spider’s body.
After a few weeks of training, the spider named Kim was able to jump. Researchers then moved her between platforms to record her jumping performance. They also studied her movement with high-resolution micro CT scans.
The research was published in the Scientific Reports journal on Tuesday. It is the first study of its kind to look at the mechanics of jumping spiders. This information could help researchers develop better robots that mimic the movements of these animals.
For the study, the team began by buying three female Phiddippus regius spiders from a pet store. They placed the spiders on different platforms and used high-tech cameras to record their jumps.
After observing the results, the team decided to continue with the experiment. Initially, the spiders refused to perform any jumps. However, they eventually agreed to participate. As a result, they performed 15 jumps. During the experiment, they also recorded the trajectory of each jump.
Once the team found the perfect jumping spider, they enrolled her in their research. Kim was the only one who could perform a jump on command.
