![A spider weaves its web in a file photo. Lighting levels don't only affect human mating behavior -- scientists in Singapore have found certain types of light can make jumping spiders attractive to the opposite sex. [Reuters]](http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2007-01/28/xin_1301042809178921230318.jpg)
HONG KONG - Lighting levels don't only affect human mating behavior -- scientists in Singapore have found certain types of light can make jumping spiders attractive to the opposite sex.
Writing in this week's issue of Science, the researchers said that when bathed in ultraviolet light, different parts of male and female jumping spiders glowed, making them appear sexually attractive.
"Males readily courted females by adopting a courtship posture comprising a flexed-up abdomen, arched legs and extended vibrating palps (an area near the mouth); females responded either with displays comprising hunched legs and bent abdomen or by briefly running away," they wrote in their article.
Once the light was turned off, the creatures -- known as Cosmophasis umbratica -- largely ignored one another.
"Without their partner in UV light, females showed no interest. When the females were not in UV light, the males ignored the females or responded with less interest," they wrote.
Article taken from: Here
Monday, January 29, 2007
Mood lighting peps up spiders' sex life
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2 comments:
I have read this piece of news on the newspaper and watched the news about jumping spiders react to UV light to mate. I think that it is very special that spiders could see UV light. Can you tell me how spiders use their sight to see UV light as it is invisible to humans?????? Shelton from Class 1K
Hi Shelton, instead of asking us the question, how about trying to find out the answer on your own? It's an opportunity to practice your internet surfing skills. ^_^
For this time, we have the answer for you.
Many animals possess UV vision and use it for foraging, navigation and sexual selection, and this includes the jumping spider.
Humans can only detect visible light in the Electromagnetic Spectrum, hence explaining why we can only see the 7 rainbow colours and not the others, for example, UV light or infrared. (You can surf the net on what is the Electromagnetic Spectrum.)
This is analogous to our hearing range. Humans only have a hearing range of 20 to 20 000 Hz. On the other hand, many animals can hear ultrasonic sounds. Dogs, for example, can hear sounds as high as 50 000 Hz, and bats can detect frequencies as high as 100 000 Hz. This explains why sometimes you see the ears of animals stand up suddenly. This is because they hear something we cannot hear. Hence the use of dogs to keep watch of your gates!
Surf the internet for "dog whistle". See what it does!
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