Monday, May 14, 2012

Why spiders do not stick in their own webs?

The spiders that make webs and use their silk to capture their prey. If a fly or other insect moves into the web, it becomes entangled. There are a couple of reasons why spiders manage to stay clear of entanglement in their own web. A spider actually has very minimal body contact with its web. Its legs are covered with hundreds of little hairs that serve to decrease the total surface area the web can stick to. Spiders use a very careful walking technique with movements that let the strands of web slip off very easily. They are good groomers. Careful cleaning ensures that its legs and body are less prone to sticking, should they suffer a misstep in the web. And additionally, the hair on the legs are covered with a special chemical that prevents the web's sticky coating from adhering.