Can Spiders Befriend Humans?
WouterDespite the urban legends about spiders burrowing into humans, there is no scientific evidence that spiders can befriend humans. Nevertheless, they can be a fun and interesting pet.
As a matter of fact, spiders are remarkably intelligent. They have small brains, but they can detect light and sound waves, feel pressure, and sense chemicals. They are also very good at route planning.
Some spiders have excellent eyesight, and some have two eyes for higher definition. Others have six eyes for motion detection. All of these features help them distinguish different patterns of light and dark.
These little creatures are very curious by nature, but they do not have the same kind of attachment to humans as animals such as dogs or cats. For instance, spiders do not recognize their owners when they are holding them. However, they will associate their owner with a certain activity, such as feeding time.
Besides their vision, spiders use their legs and hairs to pick up signals. This means they can hear people talking and walking around. But they cannot understand human speech.
Unlike dogs, cats, and fish, spiders are not known to be affectionate. So, they will probably avoid you if they see you. Whether they can recognize your face is another matter entirely.
In addition, the sensory organs of spiders differ from those of other animals. Most of them have poor vision. If they have a web, they will try to hide as much of themselves as possible.
