Insect field note
A web made fresh
The Spider's Nightly Rebuild
Many orb-weaver spiders tear down their whole web every morning and spin a brand new one from scratch each night.
Let's look closer
Wonder traits
- Animal group
- Spider
- Diet
- Bug eater
- Habitat
- ForestGrasslandCity & garden
- Awake when
- Nighttime
- Abilities
- Spins webs
Let's look closer
Why would a spider destroy a perfectly good web?
y morning, a web is coated in dust and worn-out sticky glue that no longer traps insects very well. The spider eats its old silk and reuses that protein to spin a fresh, extra-sticky web by nightfall, ready to catch food while the moon is out. Some orb-weavers can build an entire new web in less than an hour.
Look for this
Explorer clue
On a dewy morning, look for a spiral spiderweb strung between plants and notice how its threads sparkle with tiny drops of water.
Your turn to wonder
Curiosity question
If you could remake one thing fresh every single day, what would you choose to build?
Keep wandering
