Maria Lukyanenko/ article author
Identification of pests, work with insect cultures, micrograph of insects, bibliographic studies.

How a spider weaves a web

As a spider weaves a web, experts shot a video where you can see in detail the actions of an arthropod. The ability to weave an openwork cloth, funnel-shaped networks, cocoons for larvae is transmitted genetically. The young spider repeats all the actions of his mother, never seeing how this is done. Spiders make the web different in shape, size, structure, used for different purposes.

Spider Web Composition

It is the secret of the spider glands. After isolation, it stretches and hardens in the form of thin filaments. In the future, they are intertwined, made stronger. Used to form a pattern or as a building material.

What a spider's web consists of - a protein enriched with alanine, serine, glycine. Inside the spider gland, the substance is in liquid form. In the process of passing through the spinning tubes hardens, turns into a thread.

Where does the spider's web come from - from the warts located near the genitals. A crystalline protein is formed inside the filament, increasing the strength and flexibility of the fibers. Depending on the purpose for which the web will be used, the thickness and strength change.

Interesting!

By strength, the spider's web is close to nylon, it retains tension during tension, compression of the threads. Suspended on a long web, an object can be rotated for a long time in one direction, it will not get tangled, it will not even provide resistance when moving. Due to this feature, the spider can hang in the air for a long time, attaching an end to the plant, and migrate using the web over long distances with gusts of wind.

Spider weaves a web
Spider weaves a web

Why does a spider weave a web - the main functions

The web stands out not arbitrarily, but when the need arises. Various species of spiders use threads for different purposes, but absolutely all females use a special secret to attract males.

  • If you look carefully at where the female releases the cobwebs, you can see that the warts with a secret are located near the genitals. A sexually mature female additionally releases odorous substances, the smell of which is captured by the male.
  • Family orbiting weaves hunting nets. The creation of large specimens within a radius reaches 2 m. The density of the canvas is such that a bird, small rodent, and amphibians get tangled in it. In networks spiders of Russia entangled insects, their larvae.
  • Soil, underground specimens build burrows in the earth with numerous labyrinths. Stalking nets do not build, but protect the entrance with a cobweb, pull signal strands. Their vibration determines the approach of a potential victim, instantly go hunting.
  • Spiders live apart, gather in pairs only for mating. The possessions are divided, in case of violation of the borders fatal fights take place. For resettlement, the development of a new area, the spider weaves a strong long thread, attaches it to a leaf, twig, goes down, waiting for a gust of wind. Arthropods can fly several hundred kilometers through the air or land under a nearby bush. Active migration begins after the birth of a young generation of spiders.
  • After fertilization, the female begins to form a cocoon from the web. Lays inward from 50 to 1000 pieces of eggs. Fixes in a secluded place or drags along the entire period of development of the larvae.
  • The arachnid builds a house of strong threads for itself, a refuge for wintering. Unique creature - water spiderbuilds a nest under water. Initially weaves a house of threads, fills it with air, lives inside, lets the male in the mating season, hatches the cubs there, drags the caught victim inside.
  • A cobweb predator envelops its prey after injecting a toxin. After that he leaves the prey, watches it aside, until the convulsions stop. If the predator is not hungry, hangs the caught prey on the web in a secluded place in reserve.
  • Some varieties of arthropods spiderwebs wrap leaves, stretch a long thread, pull it to distract the attention of predators from their shelter. They make a puppet, which they then skillfully control. Some other craftsmen weave a raft from improvised means, swim on the surface of the water, catch fry, larvae, and crustaceans.
Spider weaves a web
Spider weaves a web

The spider leaves hunting nets with significant damage to the threads by insects. Begins to form a new canvas after 12 victims caught.

On a note!

Arthropod often eats its invention. This phenomenon is explained by the replenishment of the body with protein, the presence of moisture, which accumulates on the canvas due to dew.

How does a spider weave a web

Many arachnids are nocturnal, engaged in "weaving" in the dark. How much a spider weaves a web depends on the variety of arthropod. On average, it takes about 1 hour for a spinner to form strong hunting nets. If reconstruction is required, the process takes several minutes.

How quickly a spider weaves a web can be seen in the video below. It does this arthropod automatically, each time repeating the same pattern. The most attractive are the openwork patterns of the spiderworms. Initially, a solid web is taken, stretched in the shape of a triangle, then cells of different sizes are formed.

Interesting!

Web tarantula, which lives in the rainforests of Brazil, is so durable that it is used by local fishermen to catch fish. A thin but very durable web is woven from threads. Kraig Biocraft manufactures bulletproof vests from natural spiders.

As a spider weaves a web between trees, you can see it in the garden, in the wild. Openwork cloth or funnel sparkles in the sun, attracts insects. But the process itself, like a spider pulls a web between two trees, deserves admiration. Initially, a predator descends, waits for a gust of wind, moves through the air to a neighboring tree, secures the second end there. Then the matter remains small.

During the flight, the spider controls the speed by adjusting the length of the thread. When elongated, it moves slower, while when contracting, it moves faster. To land, you need to throw a web on a plant, a tree.

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Comments1
  1. Tatyana

    And how do small hatching spiders learn how to weave a web? After all, the web is a difficult thing to calculate.

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