How Do Spiders Create Cocoons?
WouterSpiders create a number of different webs. Some of these webs are used to catch and kill prey, while others are used to make homes for their occupants.
These webs are made out of silk. Several different glands on the spider’s body produce silken threads. The silk is created from a complex protein molecule, and can be sticky or nonsticky.
Some spiders have specialized glands that produce silk for different purposes. For example, Glandula Coronatae produces adhesive threads that hold the cocoon together. The glands also produce thread for encapsulating prey.
Other spiders carry egg sacs on spinnerets or in their jaws. These egg sacs are similar to the cocoon, but they are multilayered. They protect the eggs from natural enemies, and allow the baby spiders to stay inside until spring.
Some female spiders create multiple egg sacs in a lifetime. These sacs can contain hundreds of eggs. Each female spider works with others to build a home.
Spiders are excellent pest controllers. Their webs can intercept hundreds of disease-carrying mosquitoes. Some spiders are able to fly. They can travel distances of several feet. They also make use of silk to glide through the air. They are the first inhabitants of devastated areas.
Some spiders, such as the wolf spider, can carry an egg sac that looks like a round globe. This allows the spider to carry unhatched young.
A spider’s cocoon may be found in the soil, or in its web. It can also be a part of a silk-filled leaf.
