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A classic circular form spider's web Infographic illustrating the process of constructing an orb web. A spider web, spiderweb, spider's web, or cobweb (from the archaic word coppe, meaning 'spider') [1] is a structure created by a spider out of proteinaceous spider silk extruded from its spinnerets, generally meant to catch its prey.
Schematic of the spider's orb web, structural modules, and spider silk structure. [15] On the left is shown a schematic drawing of an orb web. The red lines represent the dragline, radial line, and frame lines. The blue lines represent the spiral line, and the centre of the orb web is called the "hub".
Prey capture devices: 1 = circular spanning-thread web, 2 = triangular spanning-thread web; 3 = bolas. Cyrtarachninae s.l. contains species which construct several kinds of web, differing from the orb webs of other araneids. Some construct circular "spanning-thread webs", which have a small number of radii and widely spaced sticky threads that ...
As an orb weaver spider, T. versicolor weaves orb webs. Orb webs are made up of three components: radial threads, frame threads, and the catching spiral. The radial threads converge to the hub, which is the central spot of the web. The frame threads act as insertion sites for the radial threads.
The cribellate spiders were the first spiders to build specialized prey-catching webs, later evolving into groups that used the spinnerets solely to make webs, instead using silk threads dotted with droplets of a sticky liquid (like pearls on a necklace) to capture small arthropods, and a few large species even small bats and birds.
One thread secures the wrapped prey-packet or single insect to be placed into its chelicerae, while the other threads are placed to direct the spider back to the outer safe regions of the web. These escape threads can be followed after A. elevatus cuts up to 4 cm sections of the host's web threads to detach the prey and retreat. [3]
The spider climbs to a high point and takes a stance with its abdomen to the sky, releasing fine silk threads from its spinneret until it becomes aloft. Journeys achieved vary from a few metres to hundreds of kilometres. Even atmospheric samples collected from balloons at five kilometres altitude and ships mid-ocean have reported spider landings.
Explanations based on known phenomena include: Some types of spiders are known to migrate through the air, sometimes in large numbers, on cobweb gliders. [2] Many cases of angel hair were found to be these spider threads and, in one occasion, small spiders have been found on the material.