Why do spiders spit out silk?

Mondo Science Updated on 2024-01-19

Have you ever wondered why spiders can spit out silk?How is spider silk made?What is the use of spider silk?Today, let's explore the mystery of spider silk!

Spider silk is a protein fiber secreted by spiders, its diameter is only a few microns to tens of microns, but its strength is very high, even more than steel and nylon. There are many kinds of spider silk, different spiders and different parts can secrete different silks, some silk is sticky, some silk is elastic, some silk is smooth and delicate, and some silk is rough and hard. There are also many colors of spider silk, some silk is transparent, some silk is white, some silk is yellow, some silk is black, and even some silk is colored.

How is spider silk made?It turns out that spiders have some special organs in their bodies called silk glands, and they can secrete a fluid called silk fluid. Silk liquid is a gelatinous substance containing protein and water, which is similar in nature to milk, but is thicker. There are many kinds of silk glands, and the silk fluid secreted by different silk glands is also different, some silk liquid is viscous, some silk liquid has good elasticity, some silk liquid is smooth and delicate, and some silk liquid is rough and hard. The exit of the silk gland is some very small holes called silk holes, which are located at the end of the abdomen of spiders, some spiders have two pairs of silk holes, some spiders have three pairs of silk holes, and some spiders even have four pairs of silk holes. When the spider wants to spit out the silk, it squeezes the silk glands with its muscles to squeeze the silk liquid out of the silk holes. When the filament comes into contact with air, it quickly hardens, forming a slender filament. Spiders can adjust the thickness and length of silk by controlling the flow and speed of the silk sap. Spiders can also make different silks by mixing different silk liquids together, some of which are single, some of which are composite, some of which are flat, some of which are round, some of which are triangular, some of which are four-cornered, and some of which are star-shaped.

What is the use of spider silk?Spider silk is a very useful material that can help spiders with a lot of tasks like predation, defense, migration, reproduction, etc. The most common use is to weave webs, spiders can use silk to weave webs of various shapes and sizes, some webs are round, some webs are funnel-shaped, some webs are triangular, some webs are spiral-shaped, some webs are web-shaped, some webs are tubular webs, some webs are spherical, and some webs are even works of art. A spider's web can be used to catch flying insects or to protect itself from enemy attacks. Spiders can also use silk to make tools like hooks, bridges, parachutes, gliders, kites, etc. Spiders can use these tools to jump, climb, fly, float, etc., increasing their range of motion and adaptability. Spiders can also use silk to make some household items, such as nests, oocysts, food storage, signal wires, etc. Spiders can use these supplies to protect their homes, offspring, food, mates, etc., improving their chances of survival and reproduction.

By understanding the structure, principle, and use of spider silk, we can learn a lot from Xi. Spider silk is a very amazing material, it not only has high strength, elasticity, toughness, heat resistance, corrosion resistance and other physical properties, but also has high biocompatibility, biodegradability, biological activity and other biological properties. Spider silk is a very excellent biological material, it can be used to make a variety of medical, industrial, military, textile and other products, such as artificial muscles, artificial **, artificial ligaments, artificial blood vessels, artificial bones, artificial corneas, artificial hearts, artificial organs, artificial limbs, artificial hair, artificial feathers, artificial silk, artificial ropes, artificial nets, artificial cloth, artificial clothes, artificial umbrellas, artificial tents and so on. Spider silk is a very valuable biological resource, which can provide a lot of inspiration and help for the scientific and technological development of human beings.

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