Video: Scientists reveal how spiders fly. Photo: Pexels
Some small spiders can use their silk threads to surf on the wind.
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Now scientists are beginning to understand how they manage to do this. Research from the Technical University of Berlin shows how these tiny spiders measure the wind and hold themselves before launching.
Many species of spiders exhibit this type of parachuting/windsurfing behavior, which is properly called “ballooning.” Young spiders, born in nests of hundreds or thousands, use this technique to spread over a larger area. Although scientists have known for decades that ballooning exists, the exact mechanism spiders use has remained a mystery.
Researcher Moonsung Cho studied one of these species, the crab spider. These spiders are one of the largest species that exhibit ballooning behavior, making them one of the easiest to study. Cho placed a few spiders on a mound outdoors during a windy day to observe how they flew away.
During the experiment, Cho captured impeccable footage of these spiders. His research shows that when the spiders prepare for takeoff, they first attach themselves to the ground with some silk threads. Then, they test the winds by raising one leg into the air.
Finally, when the spider is ready to take off, it releases about 50 tiny silk filaments.
These threads remain attached to the spider and act like a kind of sail, ready to carry the spider to unknown lands.
When a particularly strong gust appears, the spider releases the anchor filaments and flies away.
Photo: Pexels. Video: X @FanciedF. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
