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How Do Spiders Weave Their Webs?

Published by Keerthana in Science
July 13th, 2008

The spider is a very fascinating creature. In fact it is a highly skilled engineer and can create wonderfully designed webs. Some are wheel shaped. Others are funnel shaped.

Spiders are known to be the friends of the farmers as they trap the insects which would otherwise harm the crops.

Spiders weave webs so as to entrap their prey. The flies or other such insects which fly into the web get stuck to it. As they struggle to escape they get more entangled in it. The spider then feeds on them.

The abdominal glands of the spider produce as certain liquid. This liquid flows out of a small opening in the top of the abdomen. As it flows out in the form of a fine thread it solidifies when it comes into contact with the air. With this the spider quickly weaves its web.

It is surprising that the spider never gets entangled in its own web. This is because its legs are covered with a certain oily substance which prevents them form sticking.

However not all spiders weave webs. The bird-eating spider is one of the largest spiders and lives in the Amazon River region. Its body measures up to 15 cm and with their outspread legs to about 25 cm.

These spiders hide in a cavity or crack and emerge to hunt at night. They capture their prey by pouncing on them suddenly. They feed on small birds and mammals.

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