Spider parachutes
Tiny baby spiders – called spiderlings – create triangular shaped parachutes from fine threads of silk. The parachutes catch the breeze, and using air currents and the Earth’s electrostatic field, the spiderlings are lifted into the air and carried away!
Making a spider parachute
Students use simple craft materials to model ballooning behaviour in spiderlings. It is a visual means to delve more deeply into animal dispersal and scientific modelling.
Spiderlings use a behaviour called ballooning to move away from where they were born. They don’t have much control over where they go. They disperse to avoid competing with their hundreds of siblings for food and place to live.
In this activity, students make a parachuting spider to explore the concept of ballooning and animal dispersal.
By the end of this activity, students should be able to:
describe the process of spider ballooning
use scientific terms relating to spider ballooning
discuss why spiders disperse
discuss the differences between animal dispersal and animal migration
use skills of scientific observation and research to figure out how to make their spider parachute further.
Download the Word file (see link below).
Nature of science
This activity provides a useful context to discuss models in science – why scientists use them, the similarities and differences between the model parachute and the actual ballooning process, and the benefits and drawbacks of using a model.
Related content and activity ideas
Meet the activity creator, Dr Chrissie Painting, in our All about insects webinar.
Chrissie wrote articles that underpin this activity’s key science concepts:
Chrissie was part of the team who developed these Buzz in the Garden activities:
Discover more of our resources on insects or explore the range of content under our invertebrates topic.
This activity uses a model to investigate aspects of spiderling dispersal. The article Scientific modelling explains why models are often used in science.
Spiderlings use Earth’s electrostatic field to aid dispersal. The article Static electricity and electrical charge has simple, effective images that illustrate this concept.
Useful links
These resources provide additional information about how spiders use electric fields in ballooning:
How spiders use electricity to fly – National Geographic video (YouTube)
Flying spiders! – BBC Earth video (YouTube)
‘Ballooning’ spiders take flight on Earth’s electric fields – The Guardian
Research sheds light on mystery of how spiders ‘take flight’ – The Guardian
How spiders use electricity to fly – New Zealand Geographic
These articles look at spider ballooning events in Aotearoa New Zealand:
‘Ballooning’ spiders behind giant webs blanketing Napier parks and grassy areas – Stuff
Giant webs as spiders ride silk parachutes, lay down safety lines to escape floods – Stuff
Find out more about Dr Chrissie Painting’s outreach Cultivating Connections: Lessons on Community Engagement from the Chatham Islands in this Royal Society Te Apārangi article.
Acknowledgement
This activity was designed by Dr Chrissie Painting, Senior Lecturer, Ecology, Biodiversity and Animal Behaviour at the University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato.
