How Do Spiders Make Webs Across Long Distances?

Spiders make three types of webs, namely sheet webs (flat sheets of silk), orb webs (circular webs with radials) and spatial webs (large suspended webs of indeterminate design and shape). The most commonly found web is the orb web, which spiders use to trap their prey. Just seeing an intricately designed web makes a person wonder how such a small creature can construct a web. Web-making across long distances actually requires a little luck on the part of the spider. The spider makes use of the wind to get the web to stick from point A to point B.

  1. How Spiders Make Silk

    • Spiders have special silk glands, known as spinnerets, at the base of their abdomens. Each gland produces silk for different purpose. Typically, scientists have identified seven types of silk glands, but each spider has some and not all of the seven silk glands. Not all spiders make webs, but they all spin egg cocoons to protect their eggs and young ones.

    Making Web Across Long Distances

    • As a spider spins silk, it relies on wind to carry the thread. As the wind takes the loose end, the spider continues spinning the thread and, with some luck, the thread adheres to a spot some distance away. The spider then walks on the thread, strengthening it with a second thread. It continues strengthening the thread until it feels that the baseline is sufficiently strong.

    Construction of the Web

    • Once the spider web's baseline is strong enough, the spider lets into the wind another thread from the center of the baseline. When it attaches to a point, the spider attaches it to the center fo the baseline, forming a Y. These existing threads form the first three radials of the web. Thereafter, the spider attaches more radials to the web, while making sure that the distance between radials is small enough for the spider to cross with ease. Once the spider finishes attaching the radials, it begins laying circular lines. The silk used for these circular lines is non-sticky, initially. After laying these threads, the spider begins attaching sticky circular threads, moving from the periphery to the center. As the spider lays the sticky threads, it removes the non-sticky threads it laid earlier, as they are no longer needed.

      Typically, spiders eat the silk from their webs in the mornings but leave the baseline intact. Web-making requires a lot of energy, as the silk is made from protein. So, by eating the silk, spiders recoup some of the lost energy and try to recycle the protein.

    Different Uses of Silk

    • Not all spiders use webs to catch their prey. Jumping spiders, lynx spiders and crab spiders attach their threads to secure points and use them as lifelines. If the spider accidentally falls from a height, the lifeline saves it; the spider climbs up the silk to return to its earlier position.

      The trapdoor spider uses its web as a hiding place as well as to capture unsuspecting prey. The trapdoor spider spins a tunnel with a closed door. The moment a prey walks over the signal thread, the spider comes out and catches it.

      All spiders make cocoons from silk to protect their eggs. The cocoons help to protect the eggs from moisture, fungi, heat and external damage. Typically, spiders stay around to protect their cocoons, but some may camouflage the cocoons and leave.

      Spiders also use silk as a means of transportation. They release silk threads into the breeze and continue spinning until the thread lifts upward on the wind and carries the spider away. This method is known as ballooning. Using this method of traveling, spiders transport themselves to new geographical locations. Furthermore, spiders spin bridge lines to cover short distances, like those between plants.