Spider
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Celjoys MelencionSpider
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Celjoys MelencionSpider Webs
Spiders are arthropods specifically arachnids that have eight legs and
most of them have eight eyes. Spider webs which are produced by them are
commonly found in houses, buildings and nature. They produce them from
their spinneret glands at the lip of their abdomen. The webs are silk itself,
particularly, a natural fiber made of protein. Some people taught spiders are
insects but they are not.
Mathematics can be seen in everywhere. In fact, it is not only applied in
the human work but also in nature too. Spiders are one of the animals that
uses mathematics like the bees. They are smart enough to apply it. Spider
webs are beautiful products of nature and serves a purpose to spiders. It has
useful properties of high tensile strength, stickiness, and extensibility.
According to Antonino Morassi, the primary functions of spider webs are for
“catching prey, and gathering sensory information, and the study of
mechanisms that guide these processes through web vibration”. After a period
of time, spider webs lose its stickiness easily and loses the effectives to capture
preys. It is also the reason behind spiders eating their own webs to give
themselves energy.
Spider webs have different types according to the family they belong
which have unique abilities and needs. Actually, spiders are born instinctive on
making their webs. Uloboridae family of spiders uses triangle spider web as
their hunting strategy for their preys. Triangle was known as the strongest
shape because it can hold its shape and base. The thread used for triangle
webs are fuzzy which entangles and smothers preys or insects. Orb-weaver and
Araneidae family of spiders uses orb web that shapes like spiral and the most
common type of web. The spiraling elastic web are created to have large surface
are for capturing their prey with ease. Also, orb web attracts prey commonly
the flying insects. The spiders start first on building radial and framework
thread as foundation and viscid silk will be added. While the Theriidae family of
spiders makes a cobweb which are commonly found indoor areas in houses. It
may be appear unorganized and messy but that makes them so effective.
Insects that walks or breaks the cobweb can be automatically stuck and lifted
into the web.
Other than that, funnel-weaver and Agelenidae family of spiders which
are considered as dangerous spiders uses funnel web. Funnel web has
cylindrical hole in the middle which offers great protection for spiders and it is
the perfect ambush structure. Insects who walk into funnel web can get
tangled up and spiders quickly rushes out when they sense vibration. Also,
spiders can hide in the difficult to access center. While, Linyphiidae family of
spiders uses sheet web which commonly found lays on very flat over grass and
sometimes are dome-shaped. Sheet webs uses rectangle and triangle shape. It
can be frequently damage but easy to patch up. Just like any webs do, when
insects walk into the web they often get hit by the threads and will be easily
captures by spiders. The Dictynidae family of spiders creates a mesh web that
looks similar to cobwebs. Unlike cobwebs, it is commonly found on the outside
and more organized in construction. It has snare threads to entangle prey or
insects that touches the web. It is no doubt that spiders use mathematics and
their instinctive skills to survive in their daily living.
The triangle web, orb web, funnel web, sheet web, cobweb, and mesh
web are the main types of spider webs that most of the people see everywhere.
These spider webs were created for the survival of spiders on the changing
environment. The mentioned type of webs has a common in terms of
mathematical relation. All of them uses rectangle and triangle shape as well as
spiral pattern. Spider make their webs in a spiral pattern because it can be
stretch out easily and bounce back into its original shape. They use triangle
shape so webs will have strong support while they use rectangle because it is
easy to repair.
All of us cannot deny that the usage of mathematics is applied and used
everywhere even if anyone do not realize it. Mathematics is not only about
numbers and equations but it is deeper than that. No matter where you go,
mathematics is part of our life and nature. Nevertheless, all products of nature
are beautiful and a blessing.