A new study has revealed that the mysterious silk decorations in some spider webs known as stabilimenta may be sophisticated tuning devices that enhance the spider’s ability to locate its next meal by controlling how vibrations travel through the web.
About Stabilimenta:
Stabilimenta are highly UV-reflective distinctive silk structures found in multiple spider species’ webs.
These “decorations” may look like zig-zagging threads spanning the gap between two adjacent “spokes,” or threads arranged in a circular “platform” around the web center.
The purpose of stabilimenta within the web is unclear.
They could help collect water,regulate a spider’s body temperature, or even deter predatory wasps or birds to help the arachnids collect more insects.
They also may help the spiders pinpoint where their prey is located by helping vibrations move throughout the web.
Not all spiders use stabilimenta, and members of the same species may decorate their webs in different ways.
Dear Student,
You have still not entered your mailing address. Please enter the address where all the study materials will be sent to you. (If applicable).
