What Spiders Make Webs on the Ground?

While many people associate spiders with webs, not all species of spider spin webs to catch their prey. In fact, only a small proportion of the 37 spider families found in Britain make use of this particular method for capturing food. So, what spiders do make webs on the ground? And how do they construct these intricate structures?

To start with, it's worth noting that all spiders have the ability to produce silk, which is made up of a protein-based substance secreted from their spinnerets. This silk can be used in various ways, including for web-spinning purposes. However, not all spiders use this method for catching prey.

Spiders that do make webs on the ground follow specific patterns of activity when constructing these structures. The type of web they create depends on the species, and some species are more likely to spin webs on the ground than others.

One interesting fact about spider silk is that it's actually liquid when inside the spider. As it exits the spinneret, it passes through a sieve-like structure called the cribellum before taking on its characteristic texture. This cribellate silk has a distinctive woolly quality due to the presence of a row of specialized leg bristles called the calamistrum.

The process of extruding silk is also fascinating. As Jan explains, 'Although it looks a bit like an icing nozzle, the silk is pulled out by gravity or the spider's hind leg.' Different species have different numbers of spinnerets, but most spiders have a cluster at the end of each one, which houses a collection of spigots - nozzle-like structures that aid in the silk-producing process.

In conclusion, not all spiders make webs on the ground, but those that do use their silk in a unique and fascinating way. By understanding more about spider behavior and anatomy, we can appreciate these intricate creatures even more.

What spiders make webs on the ground