Recycling spider

[ellie2cats]

I accidentally disturbed a spider in its web.  It ran to the edge, had a think and then gradually wound in all the damaged web.   This took several minutes but I am lucky to have the time to stand a watch a spider recycling. Is this usual or have I found a particularly 'green' spider.

[ellie2cats]

[Baccy Man]

Constructing the web is in itself an energetically costly process due to the large amount of protein required, in the form of silk. In addition, after a time the silk will lose its stickiness and thus become inefficient at capturing prey. It is not uncommon for spiders to eat their own web daily to recoup some of the energy used in spinning. The silk proteins are thus recycled.

[Trixiebelle]

Well I never knew that  :)

[Old bird]

Hi Ellie2Cats

Another astonishing thing about spiders webs is how strong they are. 

Apparently if made into a bullet proof vest they can actually stop a bullet!  obviously loads of them but - what clever things spiders are!

Old Bird
;D

[CoffeePot]

That's really interesting, I never knever knew any of that  :)

[Multiveg]

Reminded me of the big spider web in the US. Now, where is the link....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6972062.stm

[Eristic]

Experts say the web is either the work of social cobweb spiders that work together, or it has been created by spiders spreading out from a central point.

ie Have't got a clue and too lazy to go and look.