With sticky web nest, the spider trap that ensnared prey. But the spider was never caught in his own net. Now the researchers managed to unravel the mystery by observing the way spiders move.
Using modern imaging technology, researchers in Costa Rica to record from a short distance movement of a spider in its web. The tape describes in detail the special abilities of the spider.
Research leader, William Eberhard and Daniel Briceno, published their findings in the latest journal Naturwissenschaften. "Their ability to build without tangled sticky traps have made many people curious for more than 100 years," said Eberhard.
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| Spider legs are covered with hundreds of little hairs that serve to decrease the total surface area the web can stick to. (Picture from: http://www.neatorama.com/) |
Recent studies find different things. The spider was running rested on the fine hairs at the tip of their toes to avoid too much contact with the sticky surface of the net.
In his research, Eberhard and his team of researchers combined video camera and a microscope to record in detail the movement of the spider. They identified three factors that prevent a spider caught in a sticky, ie, the fine hairs on the tip of the foot which reduces the surface area of the touch with a net, a chemical coating on the fine hairs that reduce friction with the nets, and smooth the way spiders move their feet.
"How reducing spider webs with yarn friction is to move their feet carefully so that it can pass through the sticky threads easily," said Eberhard.
Under the microscope, the researchers noticed that when the spider webs in contact with the yarn, glue droplets moved to the fine hair on her legs. Then, when the spider took his foot from the thread, adhesive droplets slide down to the ends of fine hair and dripping. According to the researchers, the phenomenon is similar to drops of water that passes through the spiky leaves of the plant. *** [BBC | NATURE | MAHARDIKA SATRIA HADI | KORAN TEMPO 3824]
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