Spiders can skim across the water, then throw out silk to anchor themselves to dry land (Image: Alex Hyde)
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AHOOOOOY sailor! At 5 millimetres across this is perhaps the world鈥檚 smallest sailor 鈥� a species of common garden spider found across the UK.
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鈥淚t was like an illusion,鈥� says of London鈥檚 Natural History Museum, who first noticed spiders sailing in the lab. 鈥淚 was amazed that these common spiders, found in everyone鈥檚 gardens, had such skilful sailing behaviour that no one had noticed before.鈥�
His team found that most of the 325 spiders of 21 species they caught on islands in ponds and lakes around Nottingham could sail when placed on water trays and exposed to a breeze. Most attempted to catch the wind and cruise forward by making 鈥渟ails鈥� from parts of their bodies. Some pointed two forelegs up in a V-shape, while others thrust their abdomen skyward.
Some, like the one pictured above, also created an anchor by throwing out strands of silk for attachment to surfaces (). Water was thought to be the ultimate barrier to spiders dispersing far, but their sailing skills may mean they move greater distances than we thought.
This article appeared in print under the headline 鈥淪eafaring spiders are skilful sailors鈥�
