Britannica Sources used in this answer

How do spiders use web vibrations to locate prey?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Meissner's corpuscle; mechanoreception — Mechanoreception In human skin, specialized nerve endings known as Meissner's corpuscles (or tactile corpuscles) are sensitive to touch. They are one of several different types of mechanoreceptors found in human skin.

Spiders utilize highly specialized mechanoreceptors to detect and interpret vibrations transmitted through their silk webs, allowing them to pinpoint the location of trapped prey.12

These spiders rely on several key sensory structures:

Trichobothria: These long, fine hairs located on the legs are sensitive to air currents and vibrations.1
Slit sense organs: Found near leg joints or scattered across the body, these organs detect stresses on the spider's cuticle, acting as vibration or hearing receptors.1
Proprioceptors: These internal receptors provide the spider with essential information regarding its own body position and movement.1

When an insect becomes entangled in a web, it creates vibrations that the spider senses through these organs. Depending on the species, spiders may remain at the center of the web, sensing tensions or vibrations in individual spokes to locate the victim. Some species use a dedicated signal thread connected from the web hub to a retreat, which alerts them to trapped prey via vibrations. Others, such as purseweb spiders, detect vibrations from within a silken tube, allowing them to strike through the web wall. Spiders can even discriminate between different vibratory frequencies, helping them distinguish between potential prey and non-food items like debris.3245