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How do spiders make webs?

How do spiders build their webs? Are they brilliant mathematicians? Charlie, Milton Keynes

We put this question to Todd Blackledge, Associate Professor of Biology at the University of Akron:

"Surprisingly, despite how elegantly symmetric orb webs are, they don’t have a map of the shape of the web.  Instead, they have genes that control how they move individual legs as their manipulating silk thread and how to interconnect silk threads.  It all starts off with a bridge thread.  Closeup of spiral orb webSo a spider can suspend its web in mid air by releasing a very lightweight silk thread until it snags on something such as a tree on the other side of the trail you're walking on.  That bridge thread then forms the core of the web.  The spider is able to move out and begin to build an outer framework for the web, at the same time as it establishes what are called the radial threads, those you can think of as the spokes on a wagon wheel.  And then once this framework is done, the spider then produces a temporary spiral, so it starts at the centre of its web and this temporary spiral acts as a physical guide for the spider to then spin the final gluey capture spiral.  And the spider starts at the outside of the web, follows that temporary spiral and essentially paints itself into a corner in the centre of its web.  They actually use their legs to measure the distances.  So if you watch an orb spider spinning its web, it’s reaching out with one set of legs to touch the temporary spiral and then using its hinds legs to then position the sticky spiral.  So spacing between rows of silk is going to change as the spider matures and the length of its legs grows longer and longer."

October 2009

- chris - 17th Oct 09
- RD - 18th Oct 09
I wonder why alcohol and nicotine are not represented? After caffeine they're almost certainly the most sued human drugs...

- chris - 18th Oct 09
Don't spiders just go online and order them from the world wide web ?  *groan*
- neilep - 18th Oct 09


The effect of alcohol on spiders is mentioned in this youtube video ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHzdsFiBbFc 
- RD - 18th Oct 09
That's very funny - I especially like the alcohol spider, but the crack spider is pretty cool too!
- chris - 18th Oct 09
Hee hee !!.. crack Spiders bitch !! 
- neilep - 18th Oct 09
After making a T shape I think spiders make the first few circular strands out of a non-sticky thread, then filling in the rest of the web with the sticky prey catching thread.

I think Spiders have an average of 3 spinnerets which can make different types of threads..eg. sticky silk thread, non sticky thread, and fine silk thread for wrapping around caught prey.

The distance between the circular strands is the distance between the spinneret and the back legs I think.

I also have heard that they are not always immune to their own glue and usually leave a non-sticky prey line to allow them to run in to collect their caught prey.

I think they can also eat their own webs if desperate as they are protein based.

A spider web is a thing of real beauty...a spider gives me the creeps, WHY IS THIS? LOL 

More importantly guys, why are so many of us scared of these tiny creatures!

Me personally am a bit freaked out by them.... its those kneecaps  and hairy legs that freak me out every time)

ellie
- ellieanita - 19th Oct 09


There is natural selection for arachnophobia ...


http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/333/7562/278-a

- RD - 20th Oct 09
I've got a further question––since not all spiders weave a spiral web (I have a pet Tegenaria Duellica or Giant House Spider that weaves a tunnel web) is this determined by the length of a spiders legs, as well?  In other words, if a spider's legs are too long would spinning a spiral web leave spaces too large to capture its prey?
Thanks!
Paul
- walkingoliver - 4th Nov 09
Urg... of all my Fathers and Mothers creations, he and she had to create that beast.
- Mr. Scientist - 18th Nov 09
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