How Do Spiders Make Webs?
Spiders make webs to catch prey. They use silk to construct their webs and to hold prey. There are different kinds of silk that serve different purposes. Some spiders build simple, slender webs between trees, while others build funnel-shaped webs to lure and trap their prey. Webs are also used by some species for egg sacs and for defense.
To build a web, spiders begin by throwing a number of lines of silk thread into the wind. After they anchor the first strand of thread to an object, they double over the strands and spin the thread into a spiral shape. This creates a frame for the web and anchors it to a solid structure.
Spiders then wrap the web around their prey. This is done to trap the prey and protect it. The web is made of sticky silk. It has a stiffness that immobilizes the prey. During the process of wrapping, the spider can detect the vibration of the insect’s motion.
When the spider reaches the end of the web, he or she cuts the auxiliary thread and replaces it with adhesive threads. He or she then hangs the new strand from one point and secures the other end.
Once the first thread is spun, it becomes the centre point of the web. The spider then pulls the second strand down and anchors it to an object.
The auxiliary thread serves as a bridge. Its sticky silky material traps the prey while the spider walks or rides along the first strand.