How Do Spiders Make Webs?
WouterSpiders make webs as a way to catch prey. The webs are built to attract insects, which then get stuck in the sticky silk. They also create webs to protect themselves from predators.
Webs are constructed from various types of silk. They start off in liquid form, which is then converted into a solid structure by spider’s spinnerets. They are then spun in the air. The strength of the web depends on how it is built.
Some spiders use webs to trap and kill their prey. They also use them as a courtship platform. Some use the web as an alarm system. Some use it to stun their prey. They even use them as a fishing platform.
To build a spider web, the spider first spins a series of lines of silk thread. They then anchor the thread to a sturdy object. They wait on the edges of the web for vibrations. They may enlarge a section of the web if they see more prey.
When a prey is caught, the spider injects venom into it. The prey is then paralyzed. Normally, the spider uses its jaws to eat its prey. However, some species create cocoons to hide inside as adults.
A spider uses a series of special organs on the abdomen to produce the silk. They store the silk in glands. The spider then wraps the prey in the silk. Then, the spider releases the strand.
It takes a lot of protein for the spider to produce a web. The amount of energy the spider expends in creating the web depletes its protein stores.
