How Do Spiders Take Webs?
WouterIf you’ve ever seen a spider’s web, you may have wondered how it came to be. The web is a complex trap that catches prey.
The silk that makes up the web is sticky and immobilizes the prey. It also allows the spider to enter vertical space. Creating an orb web involves selecting a site and sizing the area for building. It also requires a large amount of protein.
There are many different kinds of spiders. The Araneidae is one family that creates orb webs. There are spiny-backed orb-weavers, which are non-aggressive and have a unique coloration pattern. These spiders create spiral orb-style webs.
The black widow spider is another type of spider that builds a tangled web to catch prey. It carries its meal to a hidden area to eat. The venom of the black widow is exceptionally strong.
The tangled web of the redback spider of Australia is a beautiful example of how webs can help spiders eat. The prey dangles in the air until the spider is ready to kill it. This makes the web very attractive.
Orb webs have been a favorite of scientists and humans alike. They can trap up to 250 insects a day. Orb webs are very effective predatory devices. They are made up of dragline and viscid silk.
Researchers have manipulated spider webs to see how they change in response to varying conditions. They have tested how the spiders respond to louder or quieter sounds. Using an anechoic chamber, the researchers found that the spiders responded to sound as low as 68 decibels.
