Why Spiders Make Webs

Spiders make webs for many reasons. They build them to trap prey, to keep people away, and to protect their dwellings. It’s a complicated process that involves multiple strands of silk, a spider, and gravity.

Silk is made by insects in special glands in their abdomens. The strength of the silk depends on the arrangement of the proteins within the spider’s body. There are seven different types of silk. Some are sticky, while others are stiff and non-sticky. Whether they’re sticky or non-sticky, the threads are used to create webs.

Some of the simplest spider webs are just a few threads that hang on a tree. Other spiders make elaborate webs woven on vegetation under trees. These spiders catch insects that fall from the branches.

During the making of their webs, spiders use their spinnerets to spin the silk thread. They also reuse the silk they produce to create new webs. Their silk is twice as strong as steel and can be woven into a variety of shapes.

A number of insect species, including honeybees and ants, also produce silk. They use it to strengthen their wax cells and to make cocoons. Others use it to trap their prey and create an alarm system.

Scientists are still trying to understand the evolution of spider webs. Ashley Adams studied pheromones and chemical cues that spiders use. She soaked cotton threads in solutions containing extracts from different spider species.

Many of these spiders use silk to create egg sacs, as well as for courtship and hunting purposes. But other species wait for their prey to come to them.