Can Spiders Walk on Water?
WouterSpiders can walk on water, but only aquatic species can actually swim. This is because spiders use a technique known as web-building to move across the water.
Aquatic spiders make their webs in the night, and wait for prey to pass through their funnel-like opening. They can also extend their front and rear legs to navigate the water surface.
There are 15 different species of spider that can walk on water. Some are aquatic, some are terrestrial, and some can float through the air.
Some aquatic spiders have two sets of legs, but a few species have only one set. Spiders use the weight of their body to pull the water along and create dimples on the water surface. The drag on the dimples provides the necessary horizontal thrust for the spider.
Another species of spider that can walk on water is the fisher spider. These spiders live in ponds, and can even hunt and trap prey underwater. They have legs that are hydrophobic, meaning they repel water, and have low friction.
These spiders have an oar-like leg that pushes water backward. However, the oar is not always effective. It can’t move forward or backward very fast, and it is possible to damage the dimple.
The study of these spiders was conducted by Robert B. Suter, a biology professor at Vassar College. He was able to use high speed video to get a clear picture of how the spider moves.
