Fun Facts About Spider Silk

You probably already know that spider web is a product of the spider. It’s the main weapon for hunting different species of insects.

Every spider specie has its own mechanism for creating silk. Essentially, every spider web has the same mechanic and chemical characteristic.

Other than hunting, spiders use the silk to protect their eggs.

Some kleptorarasitic argyrides eat spider silk from other spiders.

The spider silk is made from different proteins and elements which give it the unique characteristics.

In the table you can see the types of silk and their uses:

GLAND	SILK USE
Ampullate (Major)	Dragline silk—used for the web’s outer rim and spokes and the lifeline.
Flagelliform	Capture-spiral silk—used for the capturing lines of the web.
Ampullate (Minor)	Used for temporary scaffolding during web construction.
Tubuliform	Egg cocoon silk—used for protective egg sacs.
Aciniform	Used to wrap and secure freshly captured prey; used in the male sperm webs; used in stabilimenta.
Aggregate	A silk glue of sticky globules.
Piriform	Used to form bonds between separate threads for attachment points.

Silk is as strong as steel (450-1970 MPascal).                                                 

The density of the silk is low because it doesn’t have a lot of proteins. Because of this silk is five times stronger than steel.

Spider silk is very elastic and can be broken easily.

It can keep its form on temperatures from -40 to 200 degrees Celsius.

Their Ph is 4 and because of that it is very acidic.

The longest silk that was so far discovered was 25 meters long and it was found hanging across a river. The specie who made it is caerostris darwini.

No matter how much you hate it, the spider is a genius in adapting to nature, you must admit.