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Making a web

The spider begins an orb web by building a bridge between two solid objects. Usually, the spider sits, abdomen in the air, and allows the wind to pull out a strand of silk. After the strand is attached to another object, a bridge is started. The spider often walks back and forth along this strand, making it strong by reinforcing it with more silk.

The spider then makes the spokes of the web, attaching each to a nearby object. The spokes will make the web stable, even when a breeze blows.

After the spokes are secure, the spider begins to lay down the spiral. First, she makes a temporary spiral from unsticky threads. Once the temporary spiral is in place, the spider constructs a sticky spiral that will trap insects. The silk threads of the sticky spiral carry little droplets of glue-like substance. The spider begins laying down the sticky spiral on the outside of the web, working inward. As she works, she removes and eats the silk of the temporary spiral and securely attaches the sticky spiral to the spokes.

If you would like to draw up a spider web, ask your teacher to print out the orb web join-the-dots puzzle for you, on this page.

Spiders spin webs so they can catch insects for their food and even larger and strong insects cannot escape. All spiders spin silk but some don't spin webs. Bolas spiders spin a single line with a sticky end. Any insect which comes near gets trapped when the spider swings the sticky line near them.

 

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