What term describes the method by which young spiders can be carried through the air?

The term that describes the method by which young spiders can be carried through the air is "ballooning." This phenomenon occurs when spiders produce silk threads that catch the wind, allowing them to be lifted and transported over long distances. Ballooning is a vital dispersal mechanism for spiders, especially juvenile ones, as it helps them escape predation, find new habitats, and establish populations in different areas. This ability to travel via silk threads is unique to spiders and is an example of their adaptation to the environment, allowing them to colonize various habitats effectively.

In contrast, the other terms do not accurately describe this specific behavior. "Planning" is unrelated to spider movement; "flying" implies the use of wings, which spiders do not possess; and "gliding" suggests a controlled descent through the air, typically associated with animals that have specific adaptations for such movement, which does not apply to the dispersal method of spiders.