Do Spiders Have Ears?
WouterIt was believed for a long time that spiders could not hear sound in the air. But now arachnologists have found that some spiders have nerve-based receptors that pick up soundwaves. This means they can “hear.”
Researchers from Cornell University have attached electrodes to spiders’ brains to record their responses to various sounds. These experiments were conducted in echo-free rooms.
Researchers played five different sounds to the spiders. Each sound had a range of frequencies. Spiders were more responsive to low-frequency tones and to the pitch of a loud male voice. However, they stopped responding to vibrations that were dampened by water droplets.
Another study found that jumping spiders can sense airborne sound even without ears. Scientists believe this may be because they use their legs to detect vibrations. The whispy filaments in their legs are excellent at sensing air currents.
Arachnologists are also interested in the ability of spiders to “hear” other predators. For example, they might hear predator bird calls. They can also detect chemicals in the air. Considering the speed with which these spiders move, they may be able to sense when a predator is near.
In a recent study, scientists found that one species of jumping spider is able to sense airborne vibrations. This is a pretty surprising find.
Researchers believe that the jumping spider’s auditory areas respond to the signal from the tiny hairs on its front legs. As a result, the spider can detect sounds from up to three meters away.
