Can Spiders Use Electricity to Fly?

The question of can spiders use electricity to fly has been a hot topic in the science community for many years. While it has been known that spiders can detect electric fields, there has been little proof that this actually makes them fly.

One new study has suggested that spiders may be able to use the electricity that surrounds us to lift themselves off the ground and into the air. By analyzing a spider’s behavior, researchers found that they can fly even when it is not windy.

To see whether a spider can detect an e-field, scientists exposed Linyphiid spiders to lab-controlled electric fields. These e-fields were similar to the atmospheric ones.

They were placed on a vertical strip of cardboard in the middle of a polycarbonate box. During the experiment, the spiders were exposed to a range of electric fields. A switch was then flipped on and off to see how the spiders would react.

The e-fields caused the spiders to tiptoe on the surface of the box, mimicking the behavior of a spider in the process of taking off. But when the field was turned off, the spiders began to fall toward the floor. This may have been a sign that the e-fields were ineffective.

In addition to detecting an e-field, the spiders exhibited other interesting behaviors. Some spiders began to fly when the e-field was turned on.

The e-fields also caused the spiders to spin a silken line. The silk itself is a good electrical insulator.