Scientists have revealed how spiders see and feel

Biologist Christopher Terrell Nield of The Conversation tried to answer these questions - and explained how vision works in different species of spiders.

Spiders, despite having a large number of eyes - most have eight - do not boast perfect vision at all.

Their perception of the world is based not so much on sight as on the sensations of vibrations, air currents, touch and taste. Their eyes are divided into two types: primary (direct-acting) and secondary (indirect-acting). The first help to see details, the second - react to movement and serve as an early warning system for prey or predators.

Most species have poor eyesight. Spiders weaving webs, for example, rely mainly on vibrations to detect prey. However, hunter and ambush species, such as wolf spiders, crab spiders, and jumping spiders, have much stronger vision. In wolf spiders and jumping spiders, the main pair of eyes is noticeably larger than the others and serves to focus on the target, while the smaller eyes notice movement.

Some spiders can even see ultraviolet light, and jumping spiders have vision comparable in clarity to that of cats. Portia africanus, for example, can distinguish objects up to 75cm away, and uses its side eyes to judge distance before jumping.

Crab spiders (Thomisidae), which live in gardens and meadows, hunt from ambush by camouflaging themselves in the colour of a flower. One of the species, Misumena vatia, can even change its colour from white to yellow to better blend in with its surroundings and be invisible to prey and predators.

The hunting tactics of ogre spiders (Deinopidae), which live in dark tropical forests, are also interesting. Their huge eyes excellently capture light, and each night begins with the formation of a light-sensitive membrane in the eyes, which disappears at dawn - daylight is too bright for it. These spiders create a "trap net" which they throw sharply at their prey, using the white spots on the leaves as a sight.

Wolf spiders (Lycosidae) also rely on sight. Their eyes glow in the beam of a torch - they have a reflective membrane that enhances perception in low light. This is an example of parallel evolution - both cats and crocodiles have this eye structure.

And what about the house spider that we meet in autumn on the carpet? It is most likely a male Tegenaria domestica, and he is looking for a female. As a netted spider, he is poor at discerning detail and sees us as a large moving shadow. When he freezes, it may be an instinctive defence reaction - as in many animals, including humans. It may be unconscious behaviour, but a growing body of research suggests that even insects can have emotions. So maybe spiders really are afraid of us - and perhaps even more so than we are of them.