HOW SPIDERS MAKE WEBS

Inside a spider’s silk factory and the different glands that create its web

2022-10-27 -

This is where the majority of the silk’s protein-rich liquid, called dope, is produced to build the spider’s web.

The smaller of the two ampullate glands. The silk extruded from them is used to create silk bridges within the web for structure.

Once prey is trapped in a web, the silk produced from the spider’s glands is used to wrap and cocoon their bodies.

Exclusive to female spiders, these glands produce the silk to create the outer casing of egg sacs.

These sticky secretions form beads on the web. The beads are used to catch prey, similar to how flypaper traps a fly.

These glands excrete a cement-like silk that offers structure to the overall web.