Spiders Run Faster in Warm Weather, Study Shows

1 minute read

And now for the most terrifying science news of the day: a new study shows that tarantulas move faster in warmer weather.

A study published in The Journal of Experimental Biology tested Texas brown tarantulas’ speeds in a variety of temperatures, Science Magazine from AAAS reports. The hotter the temperature, the faster the spiders scuttled.

Speeds at the warmest temperature tested—40°C (104°F)—were 2.5 times faster than speeds at the coldest—15°C (59°F).

The reason for the spiders’ temperature sensitivity has to do with the fact that their eight legs are not controlled by muscles. Instead, a hydraulic fluid called hemolymph courses through the appendages to make them flex and extend, and the flow of the fluid is sensitive to temperature.

So arachnophobes, beware of the desert.

More Must-Reads From TIME

Write to Tessa Berenson at tessa.Rogers@time.com