Spiders

How do spiders make webs and why?

An exploration of the biological engineering behind spider silk production and the diverse ecological functions of webs.

Check your understanding

1. Which biological organs are responsible for extruding liquid silk from a spider's abdomen?
- A. Spigots
- B. Spinnerets
- C. Ductal glands
- D. Radial hubs
2. What is the primary reason why not all spiders construct webs to catch food?
- A. Not all spiders produce silk proteins.
- B. Some species are active hunters that do not use webs for foraging.
- C. Webs are too energetically expensive to build for every species.
- D. Only orb-weaving spiders possess the glands necessary for sticky silk.
3. How does liquid silk transform into a solid fiber?
- A. By exposure to UV light which cures the protein bond.
- B. Through a chemical reaction with oxygen in the air.
- C. As proteins align and dehydrate during extrusion.
- D. By the spider coating the silk in a hardening enzyme.
4. Which of the following is a key anatomical difference between spiders and insects?
- A. Insects have four pairs of legs while spiders have three.
- B. Spiders are classified as arachnids and have eight legs.
- C. Only insects possess specialized glands for silk production.
- D. Spiders lack the structural framework found in insect bodies.

1. If a spider is using its web for courtship, what is the most likely behavior being observed?
- A. Capturing the female in a sticky spiral trap.
- B. Constructing a complex egg sac to protect the future offspring.
- C. Plucking silk threads in specific rhythmic patterns.
- D. Ballooning to a new location to find a mate.
2. Why do orb-weaving spiders create a temporary non-sticky spiral before the final web design?
- A. To provide a bridge for cross-species communication.
- B. To serve as a structural base for the spider to navigate the web safely.
- C. To ensure the hub is strong enough to hold the weight of prey.
- D. To distract predators while the permanent framework is built.
3. What is the common misconception regarding why spiders do not become trapped in their own webs?
- A. They secrete an enzymatic oil that dissolves the adhesive.
- B. They only walk on the bridge threads which lack adhesive.
- C. They have specialized bristles on their feet that repel the glue.
- D. It is attributed exclusively to a protective oil coating on their bodies.
4. How does the 'ballooning' technique demonstrate the evolution of spider silk usage?
- A. It allows for survival and dispersal by utilizing wind to travel to new environments.
- B. It creates an early warning system for subterranean predators.
- C. It represents a specialized method for capturing flying insects at high altitudes.
- D. It serves as a reproductive strategy to distribute eggs across a wider territory.

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