Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 July 1896 — Net of the Garden Spider. [ARTICLE]

Net of the Garden Spider.

The net of the common garden spidei consists of two different kinds of silk, The threads which form the concentric circles are composed of silk much more elastic than that which composes the rays. The concentric threads are alsc covered with globules of gum which is not to be found on the rays. A scientific writer estimates that a net of the average dimensions contains not less than 87.3G0 of these gum globules, any three of them being sufficiently adhesive tc catch and hold an unwary fly. Large nets (twelve to fourteen inches in diameter) sometimes contain as many as 120,000 of these minute gum balls. The rapidity with which these nets are built is really surprising. One that contains from sixty to 100 yards ot silk and which is studded with 80,000 to 120,000 gum globules is often completed and ready for use within forty minutes from the moment when the first guyrope is anchored.