Okay, I am so excited about this blog post for Fun Fact Friday! Not only because I get to share a fun fact or two about spider webs, but because I get to share this amazing photo by our family friend Susan Estes. Water drops on a spider web is incredible to see in person. You don't often find a photo that captures it, but this photo is an exception. Enjoy! And then keep reading below for some interesting facts on spider webs.
Spiders and their webs baffle people; scientists and everyone else. Here are a few fun facts about spider webs:
- Spiders' silk, while still inside the spider is a water soluble liquid. Once the spider pulls the silk, it becomes a non-water-soluble solid. As you can see in the photo above, the water droplets do not saturate the web, but bead up on it. Scientists do not think that the change takes place as a reaction to air. They rather speculate that as the spider pulls the thread it changes the molecular structure.
- Spiders do not become entangled in their own web. The reason for this is attributed to a number of factors. Including claws on the end of their feet and the fact that spiders use more than one type of silk to build their web.
- Spiders silk being researched because of the incredible strength and ability to absorb impact. The strength of spider silk is compared to steel and Kevlar.
Micah Wood
Peak Pest Management
503-998-4322
360-607-1933
206-790-8285
References and Credits:
How Do Spiders Avoid Getting tangled in Their Own Webs?, Every Day Mysteries
Fun Science Facts From The Library of Congress. www.loc.gov
Susan Estes, Water Drops on a Spider Web
Notes:
If you have an interesting photo that is relevant to this blog and would like to have it featured, please email submissions to micah@peak-pest-management.com.
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