How Spiders Walk on Ceilings
WouterSpiders are one of the most interesting creatures in nature. They can climb walls and ceilings, and are known to keep pests like mosquitoes in check. They are also very useful to our ecological systems. They prey on other insects, and sometimes eat their own.
Although a spider’s legs and feet are quite small, they are capable of carrying a load that is 173 times their body weight. To stay attached, they use a type of adhesive called glandular adhesive. The secretion is composed of two proteins. Sericin and fibroin, which make the glue sticky.
The adhesive is activated when the spider’s feet make contact with the surface. This temporary bond helps the spider to move freely. It also creates a strong, viscous, and durable bond between the spider and the surface.
Spiders also have hooked appendages on their feet. These are called setae. These appendages tighten the grip and increase the sticking area. The setae are responsible for the force that keeps the spider attached even when it is sideways.
There are thousands of tiny hairs on the end of each foot. Some of them are smooth and malleable, while others feel rough. The rough texture of the hairs gives the spider a large surface area to stick to.
Each hair is covered in hundreds of thousands of tiny, flexible setules. The setules act as hooks to cling to surfaces. These hairs are so small that some of them can only be seen by a microscope.
