Do spiders talk to each other?

Spiders don't talk to each other like we do – instead they communicate using sight, touch and smell, says Sara Goodacre.

One of the common topics of spider 'conversation' is around the hunt for a mate, and modes of communication differ according to species.

• Is it just parrots that can talk, or can other birds talk too?
• Scientists amazed to discover birds 'speak' in code – and it's the same one humans use

Diurnal jumping spiders see in UV light and their eye arrangement gives them excellent depth perception, whereas the average tarantula is active at night and typically detects only movement and light/dark.

• Love spiders? 18 incredible, gob-smacking spider facts, from the biggest to the deadliest - and even how many are probably living in your house right now

These differences explain why peacock jumping spiders 'talk' by dancing, whereas tarantulas and other nocturnal spiders use chemical cues and touch, such as vibrating the female's web to get her attention.

Meanwhile, Pisaura mirabilis males present females with silk-wrapped gifts - actions may speak louder than words.

• What exactly is echolocation and how does it work? The incredible adaptation that allows animals to ‘see’ and communicate in the dark
• Whales have their own alphabet, challenging the view that complex communication is unique to humans, finds new study