Can a Spider Get Stuck in Another Spider’s Web?
WouterA question often asked is, “Can a spider get stuck in another spider’s web?” This is not the case. As long as the web is not sticky, the spider can walk around the web without getting stuck. The reason for this is the tiny hairs on the legs of the spider.
These hairs help to keep the spider from getting stuck. These hairs also provide the spider with a surface area that increases its ability to stick to walls or flat surfaces. This helps to increase the spider’s chances of catching its prey.
Some spiders are also known to groom their legs. The hairs on their legs are coated with a non-stick substance, which gives them the ability to fling silk away from their leg.
While a spider doesn’t get stuck in its own web, it does get stuck in the web of a spider of a different species. However, this doesn’t happen routinely. A spider might get trapped if its legs are twisted in the mouth of the spider.
One of the most common misconceptions about spiders is that they have an oily coating on their bodies. This theory didn’t catch on until a study was conducted by Daniel Briceno and William Eberhard. They found that the spiders do not have an oily coating, but they do have a sticky substance on their body that keeps them from getting stuck.
The same can be said for other parts of the spider’s body. They may have a small hairy pad on their feet to provide extra surface area for a greater chance of sticking to a wall.
