Grab a flashlight for an outdoor spider hunt
As the sun sets earlier, it is harder to find fun things to do outside, but have you ever tried to find spiders by looking for their eyes?
It’s easier to look for those tiny eyes at night, especially if you have a flashlight!
Getting started
Here are a few tops for going on a spider hunt:
Go outside when it’s starting to get dark.
Find a place that is dark with little light pollution and has dead leaves on the ground. Make sure you are comfortable with walking or sitting in the dark.
Bring a flashlight or a headlamp.
Bring an adult and some friends with you to join in on the fun!
How to spot the spiders
Put on your headlamp or hold your flashlight close to your eyes, making sure to point it away from your face. Shine it on the ground and see if you see any light reflecting back at you. If you do, see how close you need to get before you can spot the spider!
As you hike, see who can find more spider eyes. Where do you find them the most? On the ground? In the trees? Under logs and sticks?
But why?
Spiders’ eyes have a special part in the back of their eye called the tapetum lucidum. When light enters the eye, it acts like a mirror and reflects light back through the retina. Because the light receptors in the eye are activated twice, this helps the spiders see better when there is less light.
Words to Know
Retina: A thin, light-sensitive layer of nerve tissue that lines the back inside wall of the eye.
Tapetum lucidum: A layer of tissue in the eyes that lies immediately behind the retina.
Diurnal: Animals that are most active during the day.
Nocturnal: Animals that are most active at night.
Spiders aren’t the only ones whose eyes shine at night! Other animals to keep a lookout for by their eyeshine are owls, foxes, opossums, rabbits, raccoons, dogs and even many fish! The glow even comes in different colors based on the species and age of the animals.
Most animals that have this cool trait are nocturnal. Diurnal animals’ eyes, like humans and squirrels, do not shine at night. Even some nocturnal animals like brown bats and snakes do not have eyeshine. Instead, they use other adaptations that help their vision at night.
Walking around in the leaf litter in the fall after sunset, you can feel like you are walking alone. Don’t forget all the little critters who like to live along the ground.
Next time you are out at night, bring a flashlight and see how many spider friends you can find! Happy spider spotting!
