How Well Do Spiders See?
WouterSpiders have eyes in different shapes, sizes and locations. Some spiders have 6-8 eyes. They use these different pairs of eyes for different purposes. In addition, some species have color vision.
Spiders have two principal eyes that help them to gather information about what they’re looking at. These eyes are attached to the retinas by flexible tubes. The ocelli in these principal eyes are used to create pictures. These can be helpful in determining what is in the distance.
The principal eyes are also used for judging size. The secondary eyes, located in the rear of the spider, are especially sensitive to motion. When the secondary eyes pick up something bigger, it can alert the main eyes to the presence of a predator. The secondary eyes are also used to scan a wide field of view in black and white.
The jumping spider is known for its excellent vision. During its hunting season, the spider can see 360 degrees. Its eyes contain pigments that filter light and allow the spider to see color.
The color of the jumping spider’s eyes has been studied. Researchers discovered that they can detect red light at the center of their principal eye’s field of view. This is the first time a color vision study has been conducted on spiders.
Some species of spiders, like the wolf spider, can hunt at night. However, most spiders are nocturnal. This means that they don’t have the ability to use their eyes in the dark.
