How Do Spiders Make Sound?
WouterThere are two main types of spider sounds: stridulation and purring. Stridulation is a rubbing noise, and purring is an airborne sound.
The two types of sound are both similar in function. Both are low-pitched and easy to pick up by humans, but they differ in how they are produced. While the purring wolf spider vibrates an inanimate object, the tarantula makes noises by rubbing its pedipalps together.
Tarantulas hiss to attract a mate. They also hiss when they feel threatened. But, like their name, their hissing isn’t too loud.
Researchers at the Binghamton University analyzed the sound-making capabilities of spiders. Scientists used an anechoic chamber to create a test environment for vibrations. Once the spiders were in the chamber, researchers placed electrodes in their legs. Then, they played five different sounds to the spiders. Their responses ranged from subtle to dramatic. During the louder tones, the spiders remained still.
The MIT scientists, in contrast, sonified the structure of the spider web and created a track that sounded like dial-up, which is one of the most common sounds in the world. And, of course, they tested the sound’s effects on the web.
The spider’s web vibrates to the tune of some musical notes, and, if it is tuned correctly, it can even make music. This could explain why the spiders respond to different sounds in different directions. In fact, future experiments could investigate whether spiders use web-based sound detection to change the anchoring of their webs.
