Study: Spiders can hear you

Spiders can actually hear you coming.

New research from Cornell University found that spiders, specifically jumping spiders, can hear.

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Spiders don't have eardrums, so researchers assumed they couldn't hear.

The new study found that the can hear via long trichobothria hairs on their legs.

Here's more from Slate:

For the hearing experiment, the scientists played a sound at the same frequency as the one produced by a mud dauber wasp, insects that prey upon jumping spiders. As soon as they did, the spider froze in place and looked around for the threat, and the electrodes registered a pronounced spike in activity in the brain’s auditory area. Jumping spiders, at least, can hear.


About the Author

Ken Haddad has proudly been with WDIV/ClickOnDetroit since 2013. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters, and helps lead the WDIV Insider team. He's a big sports fan and is constantly sipping Lions Kool-Aid.

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