Can Spiders Climb Glass?
WouterIt is true that spiders can climb glass, but not very well. They have eight legs and a body that is no more than 15 millimeters long. The tiny hairs on their legs are only useful for creating an electric attraction with a surface.
There are a few species of spiders that are actually able to climb glass. However, most are too large to be successful. Smaller lighter spiders are the ones that can do it.
Spiders use a set of legs, hairs, and silk to make their way to the top. Their acrobatics include scurrying across walls and floors, walking upside down, and spinning webs. Some of them even use their climbing skills for food.
Spiders can also be used as an effective safety net. For example, some types of spiders build webs along the ceiling or the sidewalls of a room. These webs are very sticky. So if a tarantula decides to climb a wall, it will leave a tiny footprint in the adhesive solution in its wake.
A German team has even discovered a tarantula attachment mechanism. Tarantulas use a sticky silk that acts as a temporary glue. This helps anchor the tarantulas down and make their way up.
If you want to prevent a Spider from getting on your glass, you could try cleaning it. Make sure the glass is free of dirt and grime. Another option is to install Glowstone over the top of the fence.
