How High Do Jumping Spiders Jump?
WouterJumping spiders are characterized by their ability to leap great distances. They also have good eyesight. Their vision is considered to be among the best of all arachnids. Their eye muscles are attached directly to their retinas. This makes them capable of moving the retinas up and down, allowing them to focus on different regions of the world.
They use their eyes for hunting, courtship, and getting around. They have four pairs of eyes. The largest pair is located in the middle of the forehead. They have a small inner lens, which magnifies the image projected by the outer lens.
Jumping spiders typically jump only when they are hunting or startled. They do not seek shelter inside homes.
A silk dragline helps stabilize their flight. This thread acts as a safety net in case they miss their landing. They attach this silk line to the substrate before they jump. The silk is also used as a means of propelling them.
To learn more about the jumping process of these spiders, researchers studied the P. regius species. They found that the individual can perform descending and ascending jumps. However, their maximum jumping distance is limited.
To evaluate this, researchers conducted an experiment. They placed four specimens of the P. regius on platforms that were 200 mm above the ground. They kept them at 22.5 degC. They monitored their body mass daily.
The measurements showed that the take-off angle of the spiders was similar to the group mean. They tended to overshoot as the jump distance increased. This is probably due to poor visual discrimination at longer distances.
