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The mystery of how spiders can fly for thousands of miles, even in the total absence of wind, has finally been resolved, say the researchers.
Arachnids travel in the air releasing long silk fans. The process that allows these wingless arthropods to float when there is no wind and the sky is overcast has puzzled scientists for hundreds of years.
The latest research shows that arachnids can use electrostatic charges. in the atmosphere to fuel their travels.
This force, known as the electronic field, can be detected by many insects and used by bees to communicate with the hive.
Spider silk has long been known as an electrical insulator, but until now it was not thought that spiders could detect and react to electronic fields in the same way as bees.
Biologists at the University of Bristol found the answer in the atmospheric potential gradient. (APG), a global electrical circuit that is still present in the atmosphere
APGs and electric fields (e-field) surrounding all matter, and drones can detect electromagnetic fields between them and flowers
Linyphiid spiders at laboratory controlled electronic fields that were equivalent to those found in the atmosphere.
They noticed that the activation and deactivation of the electromagnetic field caused a rise or fall of the spider.
This proved that spiders can be airborne in the absence of wind when they are subjected to the E field.
He also showed sensory hairs called trichobothries found on the surface of the exoskeletons of the spiders that move in response to electric fields. 19659002] These suggested spiders can feel the charge in the air using the same sensory hairs used to detect a breeze.
It seems likely that a combination of electric and atmospheric drag fields was in play to make these flying bugs fly.
Dr. Erica Morley, senior scientist, expert in sensory biophysics, said, "Many spiders swell using multiple strands of silk that fan out, suggesting that there must be an electrostatic force repulsive
. "Previously, the forces of wind drag or thermal were considered responsible for this mode of dispersion
" But we show that electric fields, at forces found in the atmosphere, can trigger swelling and provide an uprising. in the absence of air movement.
"This means that electric fields and drag could provide the forces needed to disperse spider balloons in the wild.
"Many spiders inflate using multiple strands of silk that fan out, suggesting that there must be a repulsive electrostatic force."
The discoveries have applications beyond the world of arthropods. Aerial dispersal is also a crucial biological process for many caterpillars and spider mites.
A better understanding of the mechanisms of dispersal is important for the global ecology as it can lead to better descriptions of population dynamics, species distributions and ecological resilience.
There is still a lot of work to be done. Dr. Morley said, "Current theories fail to predict hot air balloon trends by using wind alone as the engine.
"Why are there days when there are large numbers taking air, while on other days no spider will try to inflate at all?
"We wanted to know if there were any other external forces as well as the aerodynamic drag that could trigger the bloating and what sensory system they could use to detect this stimulus."
"The Next Step will consist in looking to see if other animals detect and also use electric balloon fields.
"We also hope to conduct further research on the physical properties of ballooning silk and perform bloat studies in the field."
The full results of the study were published in the Current Biology review.
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