How Can Spiders Be Trained?
One of the great mysteries of spider biology is the ability of a spider to learn new things. Although a spider’s ability to navigate its environment is impressive, how it learns about the world around it is less well understood.
Spiders learn by means of sensory and perceptual inputs. This may include visual, spatial and prey-specific cues. They are also able to use these inputs to improve their attack strategy.
Learning isn’t always the easiest task. During training, spiders need to be given incentives to perform the required actions. Most studies involve a combination of food and gentle stimuli to induce the necessary behaviors.
Depending on your specific needs, you may need to consider a range of methods. Some are based on natural environments, while others mimic more artificial scenarios. The most advanced of these is a sophisticated, controlled laboratory test.
There are many different types of learning – from predator avoidance to social interaction. A good understanding of the mechanisms involved in spiders’ abilities can help you improve the safety of your arthropod friends.
Some experiments are more obvious than others. In one study, researchers used ultra-high-speed cameras to record the performance of a jumping spider. It was able to distinguish two coloured beacons.
Researchers tested the same phenomenon in a variety of settings. Spiders in heated and unheated arenas were able to recognize the colour of the object. Similarly, a jumping spider was able to avoid a paper associated with heat.