2007-03-12 04:38:59 · 7 answers · asked by Frank a 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
All spiders that produce webs use them to detect insects. But the one that relies on it most is the Trapdoor (Tunnel)Spider. It lays its web around the entrance to its tunnel and runs webs down into its den. When an insect walks over the web, it alerts the Trapdoor Spider.
Cheers!
2007-03-12 04:56:43 · answer #1 · answered by krodgibami 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends what you mean by "web signals". Any spider that spins a prey-catching snare (whether it's an orb-web, a flat sheet like a grass spider's web, or some other type of entrapment device) uses signals from the web to indicate that something's snagged and where in the web it is. Some spiders use silk strands to disperse pheromones from, which constitute signals to other spiders, or sometimes to attract prey. Commonly, male spiders on approaching a female spider's web to mate will pluck the strands of the web in a certain pattern to indicate to her that they don't count as food.
Now, there are a number of orb-web-spinning spiders that make visual devices in their webs - the Argiope family includes spiders that are known to add what are called 'stabilimenta' to the hub (center) of the web, for instance. These thick, zig-zaggy silk markers vary from species to species, but common shapes are X, or I. That's why these spiders are often called "writing spiders". There's a smaller type of spider that often builds a line of trash in an 'I' shape in the center of its web, in which it sits, presumably camouflaged. As far as I know, all these spiders that build markers into the web are day-hunters (they man the web during the day), which leads me to suspect that the markers are there either to protect the spider or to reveal the web to birds who might otherwise fly through and damage it. I'm not sure that there is a general purpose to them; probably the purpose varies between types of spiders.
2007-03-12 05:09:20 · answer #2 · answered by John R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Spider Man
2007-03-12 04:46:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Charlotte
2007-03-12 04:42:02 · answer #4 · answered by Joe 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Peter Parker
2007-03-12 04:41:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
LMAO ,, these people are hilarious.... i wish i knew the answer to your question but i dont
2007-03-12 04:47:15 · answer #6 · answered by live in the magic of life 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dude, that's a pointless question. It's Spider-Man, duh! ^__^
2007-03-12 04:46:41 · answer #7 · answered by *Gerry'sBaby* 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋