Mystical, Magical, (Medical?) Spiders!

  Yesterday, I wrote about the beauty of spiderwebs when they are laden with water droplets from a heavy fog.  When the sunlight hits them, the droplets sparkle like diamonds making for quite the exquisite sighting. At times depending on the heaviness of the fog, the web can be stretched to the limit with the weight of the water.  How in the world can something so fine not break under such stress is beyond me.  Also, Mark and I were in awe of how the web is made in the first place. Getting that initial strand from one tree to the other has to be an ordeal! So, pondering the fact led to researching the spider's fantastic abilities. That said, I decided to share a few interesting facts with you so YOU will be in the know about these creative little critters.

  First, I found it truly amazing that the webs are made out of protein.  A spider puts a lot of energy into spinning the web only to have it lose its "stickability" after a few days.  The web has to be remade or repaired. To gain strength to do this, the spider merely eats its web and then can start all over again.  Smart spider!  

  To get that initial strand from one place to another is quite a feat.  This can be from tree to tree, from a man-made object to a branch or anything rather stable.  It can span quite the distance or even over water.  So how does that spider do this?  The critter judges the direction of the wind and releases the finest of silk to blow in the wind until it sticks to the target base.  The spider carefully walks this "tightrope" all the while spinning a stronger web.  Then the process of starts again to the next base.

   Most spiders spin five circular threads in the center of their web and then work their way outwards.  Non-sticky threads are spun first then sticky spirals replace the non-sticky ones.  The web is quite the ordeal to create.  If a thread is broken, the spider will immediately repair that portion of the web. 

  Spiders do not always wait in the middle of the web for prey.  This act would make them an easy target for larger. spider-eating predators so they sometimes sit on the edge of the web where they are not as easily seen.  One foot is kept on the web so the spider can be alerted if prey becomes ensnared.

  All of this new found knowledge makes me have a higher respect for the critters in my garden.  Spiders have always served as pest control for my plants and have earned my utmost gratitude but now, I admire their handiwork in a new light.  What amazing artisans these critters are!

  As an added note, did you know that spider silk can be used in medicine?  (This is not just a bit of Bayou Lore!)  Spider silk is high in Vitamin K and is helpful in healing wounds by acting as a blood clotting agent. That bit of information could come in mighty handy if a person becomes injured with no access to a medical service.  Slap that spiderweb on your cut!  (Ok, so perhaps it could be done a bit more delicately than that but still, a web (or lots of webs) might even save your life!)