Types of Spider Webs
Orb Webs and Orb Weavers
Orb weavers are spiders that weave orb webs, the type of web most people think of when they think of spider webs. Orb webs are made with sticky outer rings supported by spokes that are not covered with the sticky glue, so that the rings trap insects but the spokes leave a path for the spider to walk on. These webs are usually built in an open space or in the woods. The arrow shaped micrathena is an example of an orb weaver. Orb webs are ideal for catching insects such as flies because they are suspended in midair and are also in open spaces where insects are commonly found.
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Tube Webs and Trapdoor Spiders
Tube, or funnel webs are made by trapdoor spiders, and are usually made above a hole in the ground. Spiders use this web by sitting in the hole underground and waiting for a vibration from the funnel above it. When the web vibrates, it means that an insect is trapped in the web, and the spider comes running out to quickly eat its fresh meal. The brown recluse spider is an example of a funnel weaver. These webs are ideal for catching ground insects and insects that crawl around in the tops of the grass, as well as insects that are landing from a brief flight.
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Sheet Webs and Sheet Web Weavers
Sheet webs are made by sheet web weavers, which live on the underside of their web and wait for an insect to become entangled in the web above them. When this happens, the spider runs along the bottom of the web to bite and paralyze its prey before it can get away. These spiders lie anywhere, and half of the spiders in Europe are sheet web weavers. The clown faced spider is an example of a sheet web weaver. Sheet webs are good for catching insects that fly and land on the ground, and work by entangling the feet of the insect that lands in it.
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Cob Webs and House Spiders
Cobwebs are made by common house spiders, and are woven carefully so that insects can easily break one strand, but at the cost of web integrity. This means that cobwebs are easy for insects to break, but if they do the web will fall on them and they will become helplessly entangled. This web is common in many households, but are easiest to see when they are covered in dust. Cobwebs are effective for catching the insects that live in the common household, and can catch any insect that is unfortunate enough to be in an enclosed area of a house.
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Triangle Webs and the Triangle Spiders
Triangle webs, made by the ingeniously named triangle spider, is a web with three points of contact and works like a orb web in function. The spider waits at the edge of the web for pray to land, and when it feels the vibration it shakes the web to further entangle the insect until it is hopelessly trapped, and is ready to be eaten or wrapped up and saved for a later time. Triangle webs catch similar prey as the orb webs, which catch flying prey and some other insects.
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Bolas Webs and the Bolas Spiders
The bolas spider, unsurprisingly the weaver of the bolas web, is so named because it's web resembles a bolas, which is a hunting tool made of a rock on the end of a rope that is swung around in hopes that it will injure prey. The same is true of the bolas web, except that it catches the prey instead of injuring it. Like other webs, this web is ideal for catching flying insects, but also other insects and prey.
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Hunting Spiders (No webs)
Hunting Spiders do not weave webs, but instead pounce on and catch their pray in a number of different ways. Even though these spiders do not build webs, they still produce silk to help them walk and to protect their eggs. Some hunting spiders include the jumping spider, the spitting spider, and the Goldenrod Crab Spider. These spiders can hunt many things, including moths, flies, and bees.
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How to Collect and Identify Spiders
Spiders live everywhere; in fact, it is very likely that you are within three feet of a spider right now. Here is a quick guide on how to find and identify a spider:
Step 1: Find a spider or spider web, most likely found in an unjustified area like a closet or under a bed.
Step 2: Make scientific observations on how big is is, its color, where it lives, etc.
Step 3: Using the Internet, find the spiders common to your area, and then narrow your search down based on the information you have.
Step 1: Find a spider or spider web, most likely found in an unjustified area like a closet or under a bed.
Step 2: Make scientific observations on how big is is, its color, where it lives, etc.
Step 3: Using the Internet, find the spiders common to your area, and then narrow your search down based on the information you have.