How do web spiders navigate?

Memory, navigation, web spiders

Many animals are capable of navigating complex environments such as transcontinental migration routes or circuitous foraging trips. Navigating these environments can require traversing difficult terrain, interacting with other conspecifics, and avoiding potential predators. There are many ways that animals can accomplish these tasks, which can require using visual, olfactory, and even cognitive processes like memory. Although navigation using cognitive processes is considered complex, many small animals utilize this strategy. For example, it is not uncommon for arthropods to navigate by memory.

I am interested in studying how small animals navigate complex environments. Particularly how spiders navigate their own webs and their surrounding environment.

Select any image to view it full-size