Overboard spiders use light to find land.

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  • Author(s): REINSEL, MADELINE (AUTHOR)
  • Source:
    Science News. 1/27/2024, Vol. 205 Issue 2, p13-13. 1/2p.
  • Additional Information
    • Subject Terms:
    • Abstract:
      A recent study conducted by biologist Brian Gall and his team at Hanover College in Indiana has shed light on how elongate stilt spiders navigate the water's surface. The researchers found that these spiders use light reflected off the water to locate the less-reflective shoreline, allowing them to quickly dart to solid ground. The study suggests that the spiders perceive polarized light, which helps them identify land. This research opens up new questions about the navigation skills of other similar spiders and challenges the notion that vision is not important for web-building spiders. [Extracted from the article]
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