2006-11-26 23:34:10 · 4 answers · asked by rj_hbpusm 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Not all of them do. Many spiders don't have a web to hang in, because they have other types of webs ("platform" webs) or they live in the ground, etc. But the spiders who hang in a web don't all hang the same way. In fact, the way they hang in the web is often helpful for identification. Some hang head down, others head up. It depends on the species. Some also just hang out on the outskirts of the web and don't usually sit on the web itself. It just depends.
2006-11-27 04:46:20 · answer #1 · answered by Kiko 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This probably provides some adaptive advantage to the spider. Hanging head down would allow them to see any potential predators that may be coming from below, and with the orientation of the eyes in many orb weavers, they can see in many other directions as well. Not much is known about spider vision, we know that the actively hunting spiders like jumping spiders, wolf spiders, and nursery-web spiders have really good vision, but this is because they need to see well in order to catch prey. The web building spiders are not so well known, it assumed that because the eyes are small, and they never really use eyes in identification of conspecifics, prey or predators, they may be of no real functional use to the spider, so maybe that first hypothesis is not completely true but it is an idea.
hope this helps!
2006-11-27 05:48:27 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I didn't think they did when they were hunting, but maybe when they are sleeping this is considered the strongest part of the web structurally a would therefore be the safest place to catch some sleep. If something were to fly into the web you would be instantly notified and off you go t catch your next meal, however, if true I am sure it has to do with the structural soundness.
2006-11-26 23:46:56 · answer #3 · answered by yellow.kayak 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
do they? is this proven?
2006-11-26 23:35:29 · answer #4 · answered by David B 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋