Spiders tune the strings in their web to transmit’s specific messages. The type of information sent along the silken strands can be controlled by adjusting tension and stiffness – like tuning a guitar or violin. Spiders have poor eyesight so they rely on the vibration of the silk in their webs for sensory information. The vibrations, transmitted across a wide range of frequencies, carry information that spiders use to locate prey, mates and check the structural integrity of their web.
Spider silk has long fascinated scientists for its remarkable combination of strength and flexibility. Most man-made materials have one of these properties, but not the other. Eons of evolution have slowly tweaked the composition of spider silk to create a material that can absorb energy without being overly rigid.
Spiders, however, don’t care about high-tech applications of their silk. They weave their webs to catch prey and attract mates. But while humans can generally spot an insect trapped in a web, spiders—which have extremely poor eyesight—can’t.
Picture Credit : Google