These come in a variety of forms, from the familiar orb web and cobweb to sheets, funnels, tubes, ladders, and even a single thread. A single spider may produce more than a half-dozen different kinds of silk for different purposes, some sticky, some not. One kind of silk, for example, is used by many web-spinning spiders to wrap up prey after it initially becomes trapped in the web. This immobilizes the prey and makes it safer for the spider to approach and bite the potential prey. These spiders exude a chemical which mimic certain female moths by secreting pheromones similar to the ones the moths use to attract mates.
Spiders use silk in mating activities, too.
These modified mouthparts are not directly connected with the abdominal gonads. Males of many species seem to locate females by following draglines laid down by the females. These draglines seem to contain chemical signals telling the males that an appropriate female laid down the silk. Some males also use silk to tie up the females as part of a courtship ritual. Mating can be dangerous for male spiders because females are often larger and may consider the male a better meal than a mate.