Beautiful, intricate webs are not the only things spiders may weave. Spiders may dream. A research team led by behavioral ecologist Daniela Roessler at The University of Konstanz in Germany shows that jumping spiders (evarcha arcuata) experience a sleep-like state with muscle twitches and rapid-eye-movements (REM) similar to those observed in dreaming humans.
I can imagine what wonderous fantasies the male spiders might spin while sleeping:
- Wrapping their eight legs around Angelenidae Jolie?
- Making scrambled eggs for Mygalomorphe Gadot in the morning?
- Getting tangled up in the silk sheets with Ctenizidae Theron?
- Watching Jennifer Arachnidson arise to her “walk of shame” home?
- A brief, anonymous encounter with Marissa Tomei? (Oh, sorry, that one was all me).
So next time you encounter a spider in your home at least check if his eyes are fluttering. If so let him finish…then crunch him. At least he’ll go out happy!